PT BA works with Australian investor

State-owned coal producer PT Tambang Batubara Bukit Asam Tbk (PT BA) is working with Australian investor to increase coal production through deep mining process at Sawahlunto Ombilin Mining Unit (UPO) in West Sumatra, Bisnis Indonesia newspaper reported in its Monday edition.

West Sumatra?s provincial mining and energy resources agency chief Bambang Istijono said the investor is very serious to work with PT BA to increase the coal production to one million tons per year.

?Yes, PT BA will in fact join with Australia?s biggest mining company in order to achieve the target of one million tons per year through deep mining at Ombilin," Bambang told Bisnis Indonesia recently in Padang.

Actually, two companies from Uzbekistan had also offered to work with PT BA, but PT BA has selected the Australian company to exploit the Ombilin coal mine, which has around 100 million tons of coal deposits.

Neither the Bisnis Indonesia nor Bambang revealed the name of the Australian investor. (*)