RI?s Q1 coal output, export up

By Bambang Atmaja

The country?s coal production and export volumes increased slightly during the first quarter of this year compared to the same period of last year despite the lingering weak price of the commodity, according to Edi Prasodjo, Director of Coal Business Development at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.

Edi said on Friday that coal production during the January-March period of this year rose to 110 million tons from 105 million the same three-month period of last year.

Meanwhile, first quarter 2014 export volume also increased slightly to 85 million tons from 81 million tons year-on-year. Indonesia is the world?s largest export of thermal coal.

Edi has previously said that the government was considering a policy to limit the country?s coal production this year in a bid to help stabilize price and ensure domestic reserves for future use. The policy, which envisages 2014 coal output at less than 400 million tons, would be implemented once the first quarter production figure has come out, he said.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak