South Africa eyes East Kalimantan coal mines

South African ambassador to Indonesia, Norman Manuel has promised the East Kalimantan administration to promote the province's coal mining potentials to his country's businessmen.

"I hope I could bring with me at least five businessmen from South Africa to explore the coal mining potentials in East Kalimantan in my upcoming visit," Manuel was quoted as saying by Bisnis Indonesia daily following a meeting with senior officials of the East Kalimantan provincial administration.

He said that South Africa, one of major coal producers in the world with annual production of around 60 million tons a year, had developed relatively more advanced technology not only in agriculture but also in coal mining.

According to the ambassador, the East Kalimantan administration could also take the advantage of the South African technology in the processing of coal in the province, which has coal reserves of about five billion tons. (*)