Trading firm says coal in detained vessel come from legal sources

Almost one month after being seized by Indonesian navy, panamax vessel Coastal Pride, which carried 70,000 tonnes of coal from Kideco Jaya Agung and trading firm Asia Pacific Mining (APM), is still being detained.

APM managing director Ramli Ahmad in an interview with Petromindo.Com last week said that the vessel carried 28,500 tonnes of the coal belonged to the company. Ramli said that the coal, which was sourced from Kalimantan came from legal source. ??..We had all the necessary legal documents and permits issued from the relevant Authorities. In fact the Director-General of Mineral and Coal had also confirmed that our cargo comes from legal sources,? he said, showing several documents to back his claim. A letter from the Directorate General of Mineral and Coal dated Feb 17, 2006 declared the legality of coal from APM and Kideco.

Ramli said that APM was contracted to supply Indian firm Coal& Oil a spot order of 28,500 tonnes. The vessel loaded APM coal in Tanjung Pemancingan port and then sailed to East Kalimantan to fill the balance with Kideco?s coal.

MV Coastal Pride was stopped by the Navy on the 10th of February due to expired sailing permit. Ramli said that his contract was FOB and therefore its was the buyer which arranged the vessel.

Ramli said that ship might soon be released.

APM is a trading and mining company. The company sold 1 million tones of coal in 2005 and target to sell 1.2 million tones in 2006. The company?s buyers including PNOC, Holcim, Coal&Oil, Kosep, Marubeni, Indah Kiat Pulp and paper and Inco. (alex)