PTBA to complete Tarahan port expansion in Q1 2014

By Hiski Darmayana

IDX-listed coal mining giant PT Bukit Asam Tbk (PTBA) aims to complete the capacity expansion of its coal port in Tarahan, Lampung, in the first quarter of 2014.

PTBA is currently preparing for commissioning test of one unit of coal unloading facility. ?We?re building two units, one of which is being prepared for commissioning test in the middle of this month,? PTBA President Director Milawarma told Petromindo.com Thursday.

Milawarma added that each of the two unloading equipment could unload coal from two railcars at the same time. ?So the capacity is bigger than what we have now.?

Meanwhile, expansion of the shiploader capacity is targeted to be completed in the first quarter of this year. ?The new shiploader facility is expected to be able to serve vessels with minimum capacity of 150,000 DWT or even 210,000 DWT,? Milawarma said, while adding that the company?s shiploader unit currently could only serve vessels with capacity of 88,000 DWT.

?So with the addition of new loading and shiploader facilities, it is expected that in the first quarter (of 2014), the installed capacity of the Tarahan port will reach a minimum of 20 to 25 million tons per year. And, it could increase up to 30 million tons per year,? he said. The current capacity stands at 12.5 million tons per year.

Elsewhere, PTBA is currently running a commissioning test for a 2x8 MW coal-fired power plant to support the operation of the Tarahan port later on. ?So we?ll not merely rely on (supply from) PLN (state utility),? Milawarma said.

The Tarahan port accommodates PTBA?s coal transported from its concessions in Tanjung Enim, South Sumatra.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak