KPC, Perkasa Inakakerta in talks to build new coalport
Thursday, January 15 2004 - 12:51 AM WIB
“KPC and Perkasa are in talks over the port development scenarios. The first scenario is that the port be built by KPC and Perkasa will pay fee to use the port, or the other way round. But, it could also be built by third party, in which both KPC and Perkasa will pay fee to the operator for using the port,” Sonny Miarso, KPC General Manager External Affairs and Sustainable Development told Petromindo.Com.
Sonny expected that the talks would be concluded soon as the port’s construction is scheduled to be completed in July this year, when Bengalon mine is expected to commence production.
Sonny added that KPC expected to initially produce some 3 million tons of coal this year from its Bengalon mine once the port is completed. According to KPC’s website, Bengalon has 169 million tons of marketable coal deposit.
Separately, Perkasa president Soehandojo also told Petromindo.Com that Perkasa would also produce around 3-4 million tons coal per year at its peak. Perkasa expects to commence trial mining soon. "As KPC’s Bengalon mine and our mine are located nearby, it would be more efficient to build only one coal loading port,” said Soehandojo.
The port would use 60-hectares of KPC’s Bengalon land.
KPC is planning to mine its Bengalon deposit this year as part of plan to boost production to 26 million tons this year. KPC has already operated Tanjung Bara coalport, which is capable of handling bulk carriers of up to 220,000 DWT. Bangalon is located some 10 kilometers from Tanjung Bara.
Sonny did not detail the port’s planned capacity or the investment needed to build the port. (godang/alex)