PTBA to produce 10.2 million tons of coal in 2005

State-owned coal miner PT Tambang Batubara Bukit Asam (PTBA) is targeting to increase its 2005 coal production by 300,000 tons to 10.2 million tons from 9.9 million tons last year, company spokesperson said Monday.

?Coal sales is expected to reach around 10.6 million tons this year with total revenue of approximately Rp 3.2 trillion (US$=Rp9,446),? PTBA corporate secretary Milawarma told reporters in Palembang.

Milawarma said PTBA was currently negotiating the existing coal contracts with buyers from Malaysia, Japan and Taiwan. ?These contracts are about coal sales of around 500,000 tons annually each,? Milawarma said.

Milawarma also said the negotiation for a new coal price with the 3,400-megawatts Suralaya coal-fired power plant will be concluded soon.

PT Indonesia Power-operated Suralaya power plant is PTBA?s main customer. Under a supply contract, PTBA is obligated to deliver about 6.1 million tons of coal annually to the power plant. (godang)