Train collision not significantly affects coal supply to Suralaya

State coal mining firm PT. Tambang Batubara Bukit Asam said on Friday that coal transportation in from Tanjung Enim mine in South Sumatra to Tarahan coal port in Lampung would be resumed shortly and said coal supply for Indonesia Power?s Suralaya 3,400MW coal-fired power in Banten would not be significantly disrupted.

?Currently Suralaya has 190,000 tones in its stockpile and in Tarahan we still have 60,000 tones of coal in Tarahan which is in the process of being delivered to Suaralaya. More over 3 coal barges from Kertapati are now heading for Suralaya,? PTBA corporate secretary Milawarma told Petromindo.Com.

On Thursday, a passenger train collided with train that carried coal from Tanjung Enim to Tarahan, leaving several people dead and disrupting coal transportation to Tarahan.

Milawarma said that he had been informed by state railway company KAI that coal transportation operations would be resumed later today.

PTBA is Suralaya?s biggest coal supplier, contracted to supply some 6 MTPA. PTBA transports Tanjung Enim coal using railway to shipping points in Tarahan coal port in Lampung and Kertapati in South Sumatra.

Separately, an Indonesia Power official contracted by petromindo. Com confirmed that the incident would not likely cause coal supply disruption for Suralaya. ?The 190,000 tones stockpile in Suralaya is adequate for 4.5 days supply and the supply would also be backed by stockpile at Tarahan. He also said that within one week-time, Suralaya would receive shipments of around 100,000 tones from Kalimantan coal producers namely PT.Aadaro Indonesia, PT.Kideco Jaya Agung and PT.Berau Coal, with whom Indonesia power has term supply contracts. (godang/dino)