RI to remain key supplier of coal to Thailand

Indonesia is likely to be the main coal suppliers to Thailand as its domestic supply continued to decline while demand from industries mainly the power plant and cement industries are to grow, coal miner says.

Senior analyst marketing, sales and logistic of Thai-based coal producer, Banpu Public Company Limited, Sinpetch Tussiri said that Thailand imported some 16.7 million tonnes of coal in 2010 of which some 75 percent from Indonesia.

Indonesia will be main supply source into Thailand due to proximity to market, Tussiri told participants of the first annual business meeting of Indonesia coal producers and buyers in Bali on Friday.

The country?s total consumption reached 18.7 million tonnes in 2010 of which only 2 million tonnes supplied by domestic coal.

He said that Thailand?s coal demand would continue to grow, mainly driven by the Independent power producers (IPP) and cement industries. Tussiri said that the demand for cement industries, for example would grow about 2.8 percent per year from the total of 6.7 million tonnes in 2010 to 8.9 million tonnes in 2020.

Most of the imported coal into Thailand is expected to be dominated by low to medium calorific value with low Sulphur content. (adianto)