PTBA, PLN conclude price negotiation on Suralaya coal supply

The price of coal sold by PT Tambang Batubara Bukit Asam (PTBA) to the Suralaya steam power plant near Merak port, Banten has been increased by 4.36 percent to Rp244,200 per ton from Rp234,000 (US$1 = Rp.9,400) per ton at present.

Investor Daily reported on Friday that the new price, which affected all the coal supply made since January 1, this year would be valid until the end of the year. The new price does not include the 10 percent value added tax.

President director of PTBA, Ismet Harmaini, said in Jakarta on Thursday that in addition, the Suralaya power plant had to pay an extra transportation cost of Rp4,909 per every ton of coal supplied by the coal company directly through Tanjung Enim to Tarahan coal terminal in Panjang, Lampung, and additional cost of Rp5,706 for every ton of coal supplied through Kertapati.

The additional transportation payment also affected all the supply made by the Tanjung Enim, South Sumatra-based coal producer since May, this year and valid until the end of this year.

Ismet said the additional payment for the transportation of the coal was part of the agreement made by PTBA, the Suralaya power plant and the state owned railway operator PT Kereta Api Indonesia to speed up the upgrading work of the broken bridge linking the Kertapati train station in Palembang to the Tarahan coal terminal in Panjang, Lampung.

The damage in the bridge has seriously disrupted the supply of coal to the Suralaya power plant which buys a larger part of its coal need from PTBA. (*)