PT BA allocates Rp17.4 billion to small firms
Thursday, April 20 2000 - 03:00 AM WIB
State owned coal mining company PT Batubara Bukit Asam has provided at least Rp 17.4 billion to help small companies and cooperatives near its coal mining site in Tanjung Enim, South Sumatera, Astaga.com reported on Thursday
The company's president RA Sunardi said on Wednesday that the funds mostly chanelled in the form of cheap loans have benefited 1,182 small companies and cooperatives. He said that recipients of the funds were chosen after a series of close observation, and the funds were only distributed to those with a good prospect.
He said that the distribution of cheap loans to the local companies and cooperatives was an important part of the company's community development program, which also included the construction of public facilities for the locals.
Sunardi earlier said that the coal mine operator and PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) had agreed to jointly invest about Rp 425 billion to increase the coal transportation capacity from the coal mining site in Tanjung Enim, South Sumatera and Tarahan port in Lampung province, Media Indonesia reported on Monday.
He said the project would able to increase the coal transportation capacity to 12.5 million tons per year beginning 2002 or 2003, an increase by about 4.5 million tons a year from the present capacity. (*)