MAS expects flat coal output this year

By Tri Subhki R

Courtesy of Baramulti

Coal mining company PT Muara Alam Sejahtera (MAS), a subsidiary of Baramulti Group, is expected to have flat coal production this year. Last year, the company, which operates mine in Lahat Regency, South Sumatra Province, produced 2 million to 2.5 million tons of coal.

?We don?t have the official production plan yet for 2017, but it is expected the coal production will be the same as in 2016 at 2 million to 2.5 million tons,? Fareza Deshandi, Mine Support Director of MAS, said to Petromindo.com recently.

MAS owns 1,745 hectares concession with coal quality of 4,800 kcal/kg ? 5,350 kcal/kg (AR). The company mainly relies on railway transportation to haul the coal from Lahat to Kertapati port. ?We keep optimizing the railway transportation for coal hauling,? he said.

MAS is one of a number of coal miners that utilize railway transportation in South Sumatra, where many coal miners still use public road to transport coal.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak