Update: IBT expected to resume operations in 10 days

South Kalimantan coal terminal operator PT. Indonesia Bulk Terminal (IBT) estimated that it would take 10-14 days before the broken loading belt conveyor can be fully repaired and operations could be resumed normally, a mines and energy official said.

IBT has declared force majeur to its customer after loading conveyor belt was broken on Sunday night, causing all loading operations to stop.

The official, who declined to be named, said that the repair works were taking place and the company is aiming to fix the conveyor in a week.

IBT?s major customer PT.Adaro Indonesia said that it was not significantly affected by loading stoppage as it had moved its loading operations to Taboneo transshipment facility, which has the capacity to load 70,000 tons of coal per day. ?Adaro has shift all vessels bound to Pulau Laut to Taboneo,? said Adaro?s administration manager Priyadi.

Last year, Adaro shipped 6.2 million tons of its coal production from IBT. IBT, which partly owned by Australian company New Hope Corporation has throughput capacity of 8 million tons of coal per annum. (godang/robert)