RI?s coal miners plan to produce 500 mt in 2013

By Adianto P. Simamora

Miners, both holders of Coal Contract of Work (PKP2B) and Mining Business Permit (IUP), have submitted proposal to the government to produce a total of up to 500 million tons of coal in 2013, up from this year?s projection of 332 million tons, senior official said.

Director of Coal at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Edy Prasodjo said the coal miners in their company budget work plan (PKAP) proposed the production target earlier this year at that time when price of coal started declining.

?We are still evaluating their proposal. We are still calculating the total of domestic demand on coal before deciding on whether to approve or not the companies? proposal,? he said.

Data from the ministry shows the realization of coal production in 2011 reached 353 million tons, increased from 275 tons in 2010.

For 2012, miners proposed to produce 332 tons of which 250 tons would be for export with only 82 tons for domestic market.

Editing by David Mustakim