WBM sees slightly higher coal output

By Edgar Subroto

South Kalimantan coal miner PT Wahana Baratama Mining (WBM) plans to produce around 4.5-5 million tons of coal in this year, up slightly from last year?s output of 3.9 million tons, an industry source told Petromindo.Com.

As of March this year, WBM has produced around 1 million tons, the source said. With the current market, WBM will produce in moderate pace, the source said.

At the end of last year, WBM has obtained forestry land use permit locally known as Izin Pinjam pakai for around 794 hectares of forest area within its mining area.

With the permit, WBM can develop the mine into production stage to boost the company?s coal output in 2014. WBM produced 4.3 million tons of coal in 2011.

IDX-listed coal miner group PT. Bayan Resources has 100 percent shares in WBM.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak