TIA to ramp up 2011 coal production

South Kalimantan coal miner PT. Tunas Inti Abadi (TIA) plans to increase its coal production to 2.5-3.0 million tons in 2011 from 2 million targeted this year.

Eddy Nugroho, the Company's Contract Commercial Manager told Petromindo.Com that TIA?s production from Jan-June period had reached 1.2 million tons. ?We confident to meet our target for this year, despite bad weather,? he said.

For this year, all production is already contracted under short-term contracts to Chinese and Indian buyers, he said without giving detail about buyers' names.

TIA is majority owned by PT. ABM Investama (ABM), an investment holding company with strategic investments in energy related areas.

TIA started coal production in August 2009. The mine, which is located in Sei Loban, Angsana, Tanah Bumbu regency produces coal with calorific value of 5600 ? 5800 Kcal/Kg (ADB), moisture of 34-36% (ARB), sulphur content of 0.3% (ADB), and ash content of 4-6% (ADB).

Coal produced is hauled through 27.5km road to Sungai Bunati river port, using BBC Port which can service barges of up to 300 feet and barged to Muara Satui anchorage point. (denny)