New coal briquet factory

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)