RUBS makes maiden coal delivery via railway

By Tri Subhki R

Petromindo|Khalsa

PT Rantai Utama Bhakti Sumatra, a coal mining company in Lahat Regency, South Sumatra Province, made a maiden coal delivery via railway transport on Wednesday. It sets 1.5 million tons of coal per year to be transported via railway.

"The initial target is 1.5 million tons of coal per year and may be increased to 3 million tons in the future," RUBS' President Director Hanifah Ferry Mursidan Baldan said.

RUBS delivers coal from the mine to the Banjarsari Railway Station in Lahat Regency then transport the cargo by railway to Simpang Station in Palembang. It takes 162 km distance and approximately 5 to 6 hours to reach Simpang Station.

RUBS collaborates with PT Gumay Prima Energi (GPE) in transporting coal to Simpang Station since GPE owns coal supply volume contract with state-owned railway firm PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) or KAI.

Andika Tri Putranto, Executive Vice President of KAI's Regional Division III of South Sumatra, said that the coal railway transport helps reduce coal transport via trucks using the public roads in the province.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak