RI coal output down 18%

Indonesia?s coal output in the first six months of this year declined by 18 percent to 201.58 million tons compared to 245.55 million tons in the same period of last year as many miners have cut down production amid weak market and price, reports said on Monday.

Kontan quoted Director of Coal Management and Development at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Adhi Wibowo as saying that there is possibility for the country to miss this year?s coal output target of 425 million tons. ?We don?t know yet whether we?ll revise the production target or not,? he said.

A lower coal production would affect the government non-tax revenue from the mining sector this year. (*)