PLN to develop online monitoring of coal supply

The state-utility firm PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN), the country?s largest coal buyer is developing an online system to enable the company to monitor sustainable supplies of coal as part of its efforts to minimize electricity blackout.

Under the so-called online monitoring coal supply system, the company?s top officials could directly monitor supply and stock of coal, including its shipment process across the country and could then order staffs to tackle any snags on supply via text messages (SMS).

?PLN?s board of directors would access updated status of coal supply, including the position of ships transporting the coal through the blackberry messaging system and they could direct staffs to handle any problems on the field,? Helmi Najamuddin, division head of coal affairs at the PLN said in a recent meeting between buyers and suppliers in Bali.

PLN is the country?s main buyer of coal, currently for 2011 the company expects to purchase some 50 million tonnes.

?As more coal-fired power plants are slated to operate in coming years, PLN expects to consume 100 million tonnnes of coal per annum by 2018,? he said, adding that about 55 percent of the coal used by the PLN is low rank coal of calorific value of between 3,800 ? 4,500 kcal/kg (GAR). (adianto)