New coal briquet factory

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto will officially open a coal briquet factory in Gresik, East Java, Heri Supriyanto, the head of Indonesia's briquet coal development body, said here yesterday.

Heri said the briquet factory run by state-owned coal mining company PT Tambang Batubara Bukit Asam could make about 120,000 tons a year.

The briquet factory is the first of its kind using local technology.

The factory uses environment-friendly technology and cost about Rp 8.4 billion (about US$3.5 million), he said.

He said a number of distribution units had been founded in Surabaya, Gresik, Jember, Sidoarjo, Pasuruan, Kediri, Madiun, Malang and Lamongan to support briquet coal sales.

PT Tambang Batubara has three other coal briquet factories - two in Tanjung Enim, South Sumatera and another in Bandar Lampung.

The three factories make about 7,500 tons a year, Heri said (25)