PTBA revises 2003 coal sales target on railway trouble

State coal miner PT Tambang Batubara Bukit Asam (PTBA) announced Friday it had revised its total coal sales target in 2003 from 10.1 million tons to 9.9 million tons due to troubles at a section of its railway transportation.

As previously reported, seven railway coaches operated by state railway operator PT Kereta Api Indonesia (PTKAI) derailed in a village in Ogan Komering Ulu regency (S. Sumatra). The train was transporting coal from the mines of PTBA in Muara Enim (S. Sumatra) to Tarahan coal port in Lampung province.

PTBA said total coal transport from Muara Enim to Tarahan in 2003 would decline to 8.4 million tons from previous planned of 8.6 million tons.

From Tarahan, the coal is mostly carried to Suralaya power plant in Banten, which is operated by state electricity firm PLN.

?We will temporarily optimize coal supply for Suralaya through Kertapati coal port in South Sumatra,? PTBA said in a statement to the Jakarta Stock Exchange.

PTBA estimated its coal supply to the power plant would reach 6.12 million tons this year, up from the contract volume of 6.1 million tons.

PTBA said a team from PTKAI was trying to remove the railway coaches from trolley tracks and the work would possibly take about seven days to complete. ?PTKAI estimated that coal transportation will be back to normal by December 24,? PTBA said.

The coalminer added that its coal sales revenue this year projected at 5.6 percent higher from 2.16 trillion last year. (robert)