Pesona, Adaro set to lead domestic coal processing

Coal miners PT Pesona Khatulistiwa Nusantara (PKN) and PT Adaro Energy are set to be the pioneers in the domestic processing of coal to generate greater value from the commodity as required by the government, Kontan daily reported on Friday.

PKN President Director Jeffrey Mulyono said the company is scheduled to operate its coal upgrading facility in the fourth quarter of this year. ?We have invested US$7.5 million and bring in proven and cheap coal upgrading technology from China,? he said.

PKN is a Bulungan, East Kalimantan-based coal miner producing low rank coal with calorific value of 3,200 kcal/kg. Jeffrey said that the coal upgrading plant will need about 1.2 million tons per year of coal with CV of 3,200 kcal/kg to produce 700,000 tons per year of coal with higher CV of 5,000 kcal/kg.

PKN plans to increase coal production this year by 4.4 percent to 4.7 million tons, Jeffrey said.

Meanwhile, Adaro Corporate Secretary Devindra Ratzarwin said that his company has set up a subsidiary called PT Indonesia Bulk Terminal, which is also engaged in coal blending business. The company has already acquired the coal blending machine. (*)