PTBA targets sales volume to rise 35% this year

By Ruli Setiawan

IDX-listed coal mining company PT Bukit Asam Tbk (PTBA) has set target for coal sales volume this year to rise by 35 percent to 20.68 million tons from 15.3 million tons last year.

The sales volume is expected to come from PTBA?s own production of 18.22 million tons, and purchase from third parties, the company said in a statement received Thursday. The company also said it would give priority on the sales of high quality coal products.

As part of efforts to anticipate rising sales volume in the future, PTBA said that state railway company PT KAI will increase its load capacity to 22.7 million tons per year in 2014-2020 period. KAI will also develop an 80 km double-track line connecting Tanjung Enim and Prabumulih, add 300 carriages, and this year will bring in 44 new locomotives, to be followed by the development of new additional infrastructure facilities.

PTBA through PT Bukit Asam Transpacific Railways will also develop a new railway line from Tanjung Enim to Tarahan Port in Lampung with a load capacity of 25 million tons per year.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak