RI?s coal production drops 14.4 percent

Indonesia, the world?s largest exporter of thermal coal, saw its coal output last year fell by 14.4 percent to 392 million tons from 458 million tons in the previous year amid the lingering downturn in the global coal market.

Bisnis Indonesia quoted Director of Coal Development and Management at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Adhi Wibobo as saying Monday that while the decline in output has been anticipated since the middle of last year, a surge in December production at 39.37 million tons help put the full-year production higher than the government?s revised target of 380 million tons.

Adhi said that export last year dropped by 22.65 percent to 295.45 million tons from 381.97 million tons.

He, added, however, that domestic sales volume increased by 14.77 percent to 87.43 million tons from 76.18 million tons higher demand from power plants and industries.

Adhi projected domestic demand to further increase this year, while export is expected to remain stagnant as Chine continues to cut down import. He added India will continue to rely on import of steam coal from Indonesia. (*)