PTBA to acquire Cat-HTR technology this year

By Tri Subhki R

IDX-listed coal mining company PT Bukit Asam Tbk (PTBA) aims to complete the acquisition process of Australia?s Catalic Hydro-Thermal Reactor (Cat-HTR) technology in the first half of this year.

Cat-HTR is a technology to process low calorific value coal into synthetic crude oil (CSO), an ingredient to be processed as diesel fuel, aviation fuel and gasoline, and also high calorific value coal.

?We are still in the completion of share acquisition agreement by acquiring 20 percent to 30 percent of Australia?s Ignite Energy Resources Ltd,? PTBA?s Corporate Secretary Joko Pramono said to Petromindo.

Joko added that the Cat-HTR is undergoing technology development phase and is expected to be commercially operational in 2019. By acquiring the technology, PTBA wants to value-add its huge resources of low calorific value coal (4,000 kcal/kg to 4,300 kcal/kg) to become higher calorific value coal.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak