Train carrying PTBA coal collides, killing at least seven

A train carrying coal from state coal miner PT.Tambang Batubara Bukit Asam (PTBA) mine collided Thursday night with passenger train in Lampung, causing at least 7 deaths and many injured.

Media reports said that passengers-laden Fajar Utama train from Palembang heading to Bandar Lampung hit Babaranjang coal train in Bandar Lampung at around 6 PM.

Babaranjang train transported coal from PTBA?s mine in Muara Enim to Tarahan coal port in Lampung. The coal from Tarahan is mainly sent to Indonesia Power?s 3,400MW Suralaya Power plant in Banten.

PTBA corporate secretary Milawarma when contacted by Petromindo.Com confirmed the accident but he could not yet figure out whether it would affect coal supply from Tanjung Enim to Suralaya.

PTBA is the main supplier to Suralaya. PTBA is contracted to supply around 6 million tons per year, out of 9-10 million tons required annually by Suralaya.

Indonesia Power earlier said that it has currently faced coal stock shortage in Suralaya. Suralaya currently only has enough coal stock for 8 days compared to normal 21 days due to railway transportation bottleneck. (alex/godang)