PTBA?s H1 coal sales estimated to increase 11%

State owned coal mining company PT Tambang Batubara Bukit Asam (PTBA) may book between 10 percent and 11 percent increase in total volume of its coal sales during the first semester of this year to about 6.43 million tons from 5.8 million tons during the first six months, last year.

PTBA president director Sukrisno said in Jakarta on Thursday that that the company?s total sales were projected to increase by about 20 percent this year to 13 million tons.

In order to meet the higher sales target, PTBA planned to take over a coal mine in East Kalimantan. ?PTBA has prepared cash of about Rp 1.44 trillion to finance the acquisition,? he said. (*)