PTBA to increase output by 15% next year

By Donald Haromunthe

Despite over supply situation in the global coal market that has contributed to the lingering downturn in the price of the commodity, IDX-listed coal mining firm PT Bukit Asam Tbk (PTBA) plans to increase output by about 15 percent to 22.5 million tons next year.

President Director Milawarma told Petromindo.com Thursday that production will be further increased to 25 million tons in the following year in line with the increased capacity of coal rail transport from its mines to the Tarahan Port in Lampung, and Kertapati Port in South Sumatra.

?We will increase production by 15 percent next year, (and) to (further) raise it to some 25 million tons in 2016 in line with our long-term transportation contract with state railway firm PT KAI,? he said.

He added that production in the first nine months of this year has reached 12.48 million tons.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak