RI miners to export 30m tons of coal to Vietnam in 2014

By Bambang Atmadja

Miners in the country grouped in the Indonesian Coal Mining Association (APBI) plan to export a total of 30 million tons of coal to Vietnam in 2014, which is about half of the Southeast Asian neighboring nation?s full-year demand.

Herman Kasih, Deputy Chairman of the APBI said Monday that the miners would begin the export in January.

?Vietnam will not import all of its coal need of about 60 million tons (in 2014) from our country. It is about 50 percent of the total supply will be shipped from our country. In January the export will start,? he said on the sidelines of a discussion on the mining industry.

Indonesian miners have long sought to expand coal export market to Vietnam, said Herman, adding that the close distance of the country with Indonesia has encouraged buyers in Vietnam to purchase Indonesia?s coal.

Indonesia is the world?s largest thermal coal exporter.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak