KPC running at full capacity
Wednesday, June 20 2001 - 02:44 AM WIB
Indonesia?s second largest coal producer PT Kaltim Prima Coal (KPC) said Tuesday its coal mine in Sangatta, East Kalimantan has been operating at full capacity since mid-May .
KPC marketing coordinator Tuty Suryoputro told Petromindo.com in an interview that the company was now able to produce about 50,000 tons of coal per day thanks to the combination of dry season and peaceful working condition.
Tuty said the company produced 1,090,000 tons of coal last April, and production increased to 1,151,000 tons the following month.
?If this condition continues, I think KPC will be able to produce close to 1.5 million tons of coal in June,? Tuty said.
Production at KPC has been several times disrupted by labor protests. The latest protest by its shovel contractor workers forced the company to cut the company to cut output by 30 percent. But, the protest, which started in February this year, ended in the middle of last month.
KPC is equally owned by Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto and Anglo-American energy firm BP. (Alex)