PTBA could not meet Napocor?s coal supply request

State coal miner PT Tambang Batubara Bukit Asam (PTBA) said Wednesday it could not fulfill the request for coal supply from the Philippines state power firm National Power Corp. (Napocor).

?Napocor has contacted us, but unfortunately we can not meet their request because our production have been arranged mostly for our traditional buyers,? PTBA corporate secretary Milawarma told Petromindo.Com.

Earlier report said Napocor is seeking additional coal supply for its power plant to anticipate the tight coal supply from China following the reported pronouncement of the State Council of China that all coal producers shall prioritize supply to Chinese coal-fired plants.

Napocor has also sounded out three of its existing suppliers from Indonesia ? PT Indominco, PT Arutmin, and PT Jorong ? for additional shipments.

Meanwhile, Milawarna said Wednesday his company company had planned to produce around 11 million tons of coal in 2004, up from the 2003 target of 10 million tons. ?We estimate that domestic coal demand will increase by 5 ? 10 percent next year,? Milawarma added.

PTBA is Indonesia?s major coal producer operating a large coalmine area in Tanjung Enim, South Sumatra, and another coalmining area in Ombilin, West Sumatra. The company sells about 83 percent of its production in the domestic market, and the largest portion of it coal goes to the 3,400-MW Suralaya power plant in Banten province. (godang)