Arutmin increases coal export

Arutmin increases coal export

JAKARTA: The country's third largest coal producer PT Arutmin
Indonesia said on Wednesday that it was targeting to export 18
million metric tons of coal this year, up from 14 million metric
tons last year.

The company said in a press statement that most of the coal
would be shipped to Japan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand, the
Philippines, South Korea, Chile, Britain, Italy and Switzerland.

The company, which has three coal mining sites in South
Kalimantan, has projected production this year to reach at least
14.5 million tons.

Arutmin is owned by publicly listed mining company PT Bumi
Resources. Bumi acquired Arutmin from Australian mining company
BHP Billiton about three years ago.

According to the Indonesian Coal Mining Association (APBI),
the country's coal production in 2004 is estimated at around
119.7 million tons, up from 109.3 tons in 2003 and 103 million
tons in 2002. --JP