PLN plans to develop coal upgrading technology

The state-electricity firm, PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) unveiled plans to develop a technology to upgrade of the country's huge low rank coal to meet the required standard of its turbines.

PLN?s division head of coal affairs, Helmi Najamuddin said that the company expected the technology could boost the calorific value of coal by 1,000 kcal/kg once.

?PLN in cooperation with a company are now studying the costs and benefits (of the technology) and preparing plans to build such facility with the production capacity of 10 million tonnes per year,? he told a meeting of coal buyers and producers in Bali. He did disclose the company which partnered with the PLN to study the technology.

PLN is currently moving toward greater use of the low rank coal to generate power across the country following the high price of oil.

The PLN expects to double its coal and will purchase some 100 million tonnes of coal in 2018 from only 50 million tonnes in 2011 of which about 55 percent of the supply would be low rank coal. (adianto)