PTBA to ship 900,000 tonnes of coal to Japan in 2006

JSX-listed State coal producer PT. Tambang Batubara is contracted to ship 900,000 tonnes of coal to Japan next year, roughly the same volume as this year, a company official.

PTBA director AC Purba told Petromindo.Com that the coal would be delivered to unspecified buyer under 1 year term contract, but said price for the 2006 would be significantly lower than this year?s price. ?Volume for next year?s shipment is already concluded, but price would be settled sometime in February,? he said.

Purba said in 2005 term price for PTBA?s 7000Kcal (BA 70) coal is 57.5 per tonne FOB while for next year Purba expected price would be settled at around $45.5 per tonne, or $5 higher than January?s spot price.

PTBA is expected to produce around 9.5 million tones of coal next year next year, some 6.5 million tones of which, would be supplied to Suralaya power plant in Banten province.(alex)