PTBA to acquire Bahtera Adiguna

State coal miner PT Tambang Batubara Bukit Asam (PTBA) Tbk. is a set to acquire state shipping firm PT Bahtera Adiguna to ensure the smooth transportation of coal that the company produces, Bisnis reported Tuesday.

 

State Enterprises Ministry’s Secretary M. Said Didu said in Jakarta Monday that PTBA's move to acquire Adiguna was in parallel with the ministry's downsizing  program aimed to reduce the number of state enterprises.

 

According to M. Said, PTBA and Adiguna were still in talks over the acquisition plan. "Hopefully, the talk will be completed soon. It is a strategic move to safeguard the coal supply from the state mining firm,” he said.

 

Meanwhile, State Enterprises Minister Sofjan A. Djalil said that in parallel with the PTBA and Adiguna merger move, the ministry was also in the process of completing the establishment of a holding company for state mining firms. (*)