TBBA raises coal output

JAKARTA (JP): PT Tambang Batubara Bukit Asam (TBBA), the state coal mining company, plans to increase coal production this year by 23 percent to about 11.5 million tons from 9.29 million tons last year.

Company president R. Sunardi said the production increase was necessary to meet rising demand both at home and overseas.

Sunardi said about 10.2 million tons of next year's total coal production would be produced at its Tanjung Enim mining site while the remaining 1.13 million tons would come from Ombilin.

He said the firm's sale volume rose to 9.07 million tons in 1996 from 8.61 million tons in 1995.

He said about 640,000 tons of next year's planned output would be produced by PT Tambang subsidiary PT Bukit Kendi. (09)