Jakarta (ANTARA) - PT Bukit Asam Tbk (PTBA) is preparing the\ndevelopment of the Ombilin coal mine in West Sumatra as well as the\npower plant project in Mempawah, West Kalimantan, as part of the\ncompany\u2019s expansion and downstreaming strategy.<\/p>\n
PTBA President Director Arsal Ismail stated that the Ombilin mine\nstill has reserves of 102 million tonnes of coal, which have potential\nto be optimised.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf with prices (of coal) like now, we should optimise that\nopportunity,\u201d said Arsal in Jakarta on Monday.<\/p>\n
He explained that of the total reserves, around 2 million tonnes are\nin open-pit mining, while 100 million tonnes are underground mining.<\/p>\n
Previously, the government through the Investment Management Agency\n(BPI) Danantara encouraged the acceleration of the reactivation of the\nOmbilin mine.<\/p>\n
If it operates again, the mine has the potential to absorb around\n1,000 workers.<\/p>\n
According to Arsal, the development of Ombilin has now received\napproval from the Ministry of Culture because the area is related to a\ncultural heritage site.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have received approval from the Minister of Culture, because the\narea is included in the UNESCO World Heritage site,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
PTBA Operations and Production Director Ilham Yacob added that the\ncurrent stage for Ombilin is the preparation of an analysis regarding\nenvironmental impact (AMDAL).<\/p>\n
He said the company hopes the AMDAL can be completed in about six\nmonths, even if possible it can be accelerated.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe hope is by the end of 2026 we can start mining in the Ombilin\nopen pit,\u201d said Ilham.<\/p>\n
Besides the AMDAL, PTBA is also preparing feasibility studies and\nother necessary operational processes, including appointing experienced\ncontractors for underground mining.<\/p>\n
The development of Ombilin is part of the company\u2019s efforts to\noptimise the remaining coal reserves, in line with the current\nimprovement in commodity prices.<\/p>\n
In addition to the mining project, PTBA is also preparing a power\nplant project to support the downstream development of bauxite\nprocessing into alumina and aluminium in Mempawah, West Kalimantan.<\/p>\n
He said the project is an assignment from MIND ID to PTBA to support\nthe energy needs of the aluminium smelter developed by Inalum.<\/p>\n
PTBA Downstreaming and Product Diversification Director Turino\nYulianto said that to date, the Mempawah power plant project is still in\nthe process and negotiation stage with partners.<\/p>\n
He mentioned that interest from investors comes from several parties,\nboth from abroad and domestic.<\/p>\n
According to him, the potential partners being negotiated come from\nChina, South Korea, Japan, as well as national entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n
He added that the company\u2019s target is to start the physical\nconstruction of the power plant project in early 2027 so that it can run\nin parallel with the smelter construction.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur target is early 2027 to start physical construction,\u201d he\nsaid.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ptba-prepares-ombilin-and-mempawah-project-for-expansion-1775631164", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }