Semen Tonasa plans to develop coal mine in East Kalimantan

South Sulawesi-based cement producer PT Semen Tonasa is considering developing a coal mine in West Kutai regency, East Kalimantan, to meet the company?s growing coal need, Kaltim Post daily reported on Thursday.

During a meeting with senior officials of the West Kutai authority, the head of Semen Tonanas? research and development division, Kasim Makmur, expressed the company?s keen interest to open a coal mine in the regency.

Kasim said that PT Semen Tonasa would involve the local community and the former owners of the land in the mining activities if the company was allowed to open a coal mine in the regency.

At present, most of the cement company?s coal need is procured from South Kalimantan. ?But with the continued increase in the coal price, we feel it will be better to have our own mine,? he said. (*)