Bukit Asam expects Rp 200b profit

Bukit Asam expects Rp 200b profit

JAKARTA: Publicly listed state-owned coal mining firm PT Bukit
Asam expects its net profit to reach over Rp 200 billion
(US$22.185 million) by the end of this year.

"The average selling price is good, while sales volume is also
increasing," said company president director Ismet Harmaini on
the sidelines of the state-owned companies (BUMN) working meeting
on Tuesday.

He mentioned that the price of coal on the domestic market now
stood at about $23.4 per ton while the international price was
$26.8 per ton.

Ismet also targeted the firm's production to reach 10.2
million tons by the end of this year. However, he said production
would be flat next year as the firm had reached the maximum limit
of its transportation capacity. -- JP

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Brief-Honda-recall
Honda recalling 652,000 vehicles
JP/14/Brief1

Honda recalling 652,000 vehicles

WASHINGTON: Honda Motor Co. is recalling nearly 652,000
sedans, minivans and sport utility vehicles because of a defect
that allows drivers to remove the key from the ignition when the
vehicle isn't in park.

The National Highway Safety Administration said Monday it has
records of four injuries, 28 crashes and 169 complaints about the
defect, which is caused by excessive wear in the ignition switch.
In many cases, drivers assumed their vehicles were in park
because they were able to remove the key. In at least one case, a
rolling SUV caused a multi-vehicle accident.

Affected vehicles are the 2002 CR-V SUV, the 1997-99 Acura CL
and 1999 Acura TL sedans, the 1999 Odyssey minivan and the 1998-
99 Accord sedan and coupe. A total of 651,989 vehicles are
involved in the recall.

Honda says consumers should use the parking brake until the
company repairs the vehicles.

This is the second time in a year that Honda has recalled the
2002 CR-V. In July, Honda recalled 247,019 CR-Vs because
excessive corrosion was preventing the automatic transmission
from shifting into park. -- AP

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Brief-Singapore-Germany
Bosch opens office in Singapore
JP/14/Brief1

Bosch opens office in Singapore

SINGAPORE: German industrial giant Robert Bosch will set up a
regional automotive operation in Singapore to spearhead its push
in the region, the company said Tuesday.

Bosch, a major player in automotive technology, wants to
increase its market share in this part of the world from seven
percent in 2002 to 10 percent in seven years' time, it said in a
statement.

The company's automotive aftermarket division has annual
revenue of US$500 million from the Asia Pacific and is projecting
business turnover will increase 30-40 percent by 2007 as a result
of its drive into the region.

"The objective of setting up a diagnostics distribution and
support organization is to provide additional focus for the
company's expansion," Bosch said.

Bosch plans to invest US$10 million every year in diagnostics
and data warehousing as part of its regional expansion plan,
which includes increasing its car service network from 2,000
centers last year to 3,000 in 2006. -- AFP

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Brief-SKorea-economy
Hyundai union to launch strike
JP/14/Brief3

Hyundai union to launch strike

SEOUL: The labor union of South Korea's leading Hyundai Motor
Co. said Tuesday it would stage a partial walkout this week in
response to a nationwide strike planned by its umbrella labor
group.

Hyundai Motor's 40,000 unionists will down tools for four
hours Thursday and eight hours on Nov. 12 at the request of the
Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), a union leader said.

Hyundai's workers are a powerful force in the militant group
which has set a deadline of Nov. 9 for the government to present
measures aimed at preventing companies from engaging in what it
terms unlawful acts against workers.

"We are following a KCTU order," a union leader in Hyundai
Motor's main plant in the southern port of Ulsan told AFP. "If
requested by the KCTU, we can prolong our strike."

Hyundai Motor workers staged a 47-day strike that ended on
August 6 and cost 1.38 trillion won (US$1.17 billion) in lost
production. -- AFP