Purnomo to meet E. Kalimantan officials, KPC leader in Saturday dialog

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro is scheduled to speak in a dialog forum in Samarinda on Saturday about the divestment of the 51 percent stake in East Kalimantan-based coal miner PT Kaltim Prima Coal (KPC), Kaltim Post daily reported.

Also taking part in the discussion forum, which is organized by local mass organizations, will be East Kalimantan governor Suwarno, East Kutai regent Awang Faroek Ishak, and KPC president director Noke Kiroyan.

The dialog aims to make clear KPC share divestment plan, said organizing committee chairman Yacobus Bayau Lung.

?We would like to know whether the share divestment will really serve the interest of the people, or just for the need of certain groups,? Yacobus said.

KPC, the world?s largest coalminer, is set to divest 51 percent of its shares end-June. The government and KPC?s shareholders, Rio Tinto and BP Plc, valued the company entire operation at US$822 million.

The central government, through state-owned enterprises, East Kalimantan Province, and several private investors have planned to buy the shares.

The East Kalimantan administration insists it become the preferred bidder for the KPC stake.

KPC operates coalmines in Sangatta District in East Kutai, East Kalimantan. (*)