RI needs coal infrastructure concept

By Hiski Darmayana

The government needs to develop a blueprint for coal infrastructure concept to boost national electrification ratio by integrating resources, transportation and infrastructure within coal industry, an expert says.

?The concept is also needed since Indonesia is geographically very big, which requires the need for detailed resource allocation. For instance, coal from Kalimantan is intended more for export while coal mined in Sumatra is allocated for national electricity,? said Singgih Widagdo of Indonesia Coal Society onMonday.

He pointed as example coal to supply coal fired power plant in Labuan (PLTU Labuan) came from East Kalimantan, which is geographically very far, creating inefficiency in distribution.

It should instead come from Sumatra, he said. ?Infrastructure coal plan is needed badly to build synergy between the state and corporate sector, especially in terms of allocation and distribution of resources.?

Editing by Dadan Wijakssana