Pama seeks to boost South Kalimantan coal production

Indonesian top coal mining contractor PT. Pamapersada Nusantara is launching a project called Rantau Development Project to boost coal production in northern part of South Kalimantan to 5 million tons in the next two or three years, a company official said Friday.

Senior official Ridwan Pohan told Petromindo.Com that Pama had approached several coal-mining firms operating in Rantau area. Under the project, Pama will build common user infrastructures, coal processing facilities and boost coal loading capacity in Barito River. The project, said Pohan, would increase efficiency and cut production costs as the facilities could be jointly shared by mining companies.

Ridwan said Pama had already bagged mining contract from PT. Dasa Eka Jasatama (DEJ), a subsidiary of Malaysia?s Tenaga National Bhd., which has five mining concessions in Rantau area and local coal miner Hasnur Jaya Raya. Pohan said Pama is contracted to mine 1.5 million tons of coal for DEJ this year. Pohan also said Pama is approaching other coalminers that are located in the area to join the project.

He did not reveal the investment Pama is planning to spend on the project.(alex)