PTBA?s Q1 production down on transportation problem

State coal miner PT Tambang Batubara Bukit Asam (PTBA) said Monday its first quarter production was down to 1.92 million tons from 2.3 million tons in the previous quarter due to transportation problem.

?During the first quarter, PTBA has faced some transportation problems and that caused our production was down to around 1.92 million tons,? PTBA?s operation director Sukrisno told Petromindo.Com on Monday.

During the quarter, PTBA and state railway PT Kereta Api Indonesia (PT KAI) were negotiating transportation tariff for PTBA?s products from mine site in Tanjung Enim South Sumatra. PT KAI cut down volume of coal transported to Tarahan coal terminal in Lampung before new agreement was settled.

PTBA coal transportation has also affected due the PT KAI?s workers strike in the quarter.

Sukrisno said PTBA planned to produce around 2.1 million tons in the next quarter.

PTBA is Indonesia?s major coal producer operating a large coalmining site in South Sumatra, and owns a coalmining project in West Sumatra.

Last December, the company sold its shares in an initial public offering through Jakarta Stock Exchange and Surabaya Stock Exchange. (godang)