Perdana Karya delays coal production of new mines

IDX-listed coal miner and contractor PT Perdana Karya Perkasa Tbk said on Thursday that it would delay commercial operation of its new coal mines in Marangkayu and Semoi, East Kalimantan due to the absent of land clearance permit from the forestry ministry.

The company?s President Director Soeroso said that it now expected to start commercial operation in Q1 2010 from an earlier schedule of Q3, 2009, adding that the first production from each mines will reach 30,000 ton per month of coal.

The coal will be sold to domestic and overseas markets, he said. ?For the domestic market, Perdana Karya has signed contract with PLN (state power company), while in terms of the export market the company is still looking for buyers in Indonseia, China and Korea," said Soeroso. He didn't provide details on the PLN contract.

Perdana Karya Perkasa was expected to produce a total of 1.2 million tons of coal in 2009 with the opening of the new mining areas including the company?s producing area in Teluk Dalam concession in Samarinda, East Kalimantan.

?We hope production will increase to 1.4 million and 1.6 million tons in 2010, and 2011,? Soeroso said in Dec 2008.

The company said that it would continue explorations in five concessions to increase production. The five concessions are Energi Mineral Kertanegara, Gerbang Mineral Kertanegara, Dallah, all in Kutai Kartanegara regency, East Kalimantan; Semoi project in Penajam Paser Utara regency, East Kalimatan; and Perdana Karya Perkasa in South Sumatra. (kanti)