RI optimistic to meet 2001 coal production target

Indonesia will be able to produce some 85 million tons of coal this year, which is a 10 percent increase over last year, according to an official at the ministry of energy and mineral resources.

?I,m optimistic Indonesia will be able to increase coal production by 10 percent this year despite several production disruptions,? Boni Siahaan, the head of investment and logistics sub directorate at the ministry told Petromindo.com on Monday.

?It seems that all large coal companies like Adaro, Arutmin, KPC, Kideco, and Tambang Batubara Bukit Asam will be able to meet their production target this year,? Boni said.

However, he warned that big companies could still face production disruption caused by potential labor strike or dispute with local people.

Meanwhile, PT Adaro Indonesia administration manager Prijadi told Petromindo.com that the company was optimistic it could meet this year?s production target of 18 million tons.

He said that in the first half of this year, Adaro had been able to produce around 8 million tons, and expected to produce between 1.5-1.6 million tons per month over the next four months.

He said that good weather condition and the absence of labor strike had made Adaro, which operates a vast mining site in South Kalimantan, to be able to produce between 50,000-60,000 tons of coal per day.(Alex/Godang)