Straits? Sebuku coal mine production slightly lower in 2007

Australian mining firm Straits Resources Limited reported on Thursday that fourth quarter coal production from its Sebuku island mine in South Kalimantan reached 1.261 million tonnes, with annual coal production reached 3.436 million tonnes, or slightly lower than previous year?s production of 3.496 million tonnes.

The company said production in the fourth quarter had been recovered from the previous quarter, which had been adversely impacted by high rainfall causing flooding in the pit.

Sales for the quarter were a record 1.41 million tonnes, the company said.

Straits controls its Indonesian operations through its subsidiary Singapore Exchange-listed Straits Asia Resources.

In 2007 Straits Asia completed the purchase of the Jembayan coal mine in East Kalimantan which and acquisition of Northern lease areas on Sebuku Island.

The company said exploration activities continue to define further extensions to the existing coal seams at Sebuku and detailed work on updating resources at Sebuku and Jembayan is currently in progress.(alex/denny)

Summary Operation		Quarter Ended 31 Dec-07	Quarter Ended 30 Sept-07	Quarter Ended 30 June-07	Quarter Ended 31 Mar-07	Year to 31 Dec-07	Year to 31 Dec-06
Coal mined	t'000	1,365	841	694	1,005	3,905	4,137
Product coal	t'000	1,261	718	623	834	3,436	3,495
Sales	t'000	1,410	539	652	851	3,452	3,531