Minister to Commission Expansion Unit of Bukit Asam`s Coal Port

Bandarlampung, June 10 (ANTARA Lampung) - Transport Minister Ignatius Jonan is scheduled on Wednesday to commission an expansion of a coal port of state coal mining company PT Bukit Asam (PT BA) in Lampung.

The expansion of the coal port in Tarahan was planned by PT BA with support from state railway company PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI), a company spokesman said.

Bukit Asam has developed synergy since 1984 with other state companies -- PT KAI that transports the coal from Bukit Asam`s coal mines in Muara Enim, South Sumatra, and with shipping company PT Bahtera Adhi Guna that transports the coal across the sea to Java and with power utility PLN that uses the coal to feed its coal fired power plant in Suralaya, Banten.

The coal port of PT BA , after being upgraded with additional quays , is now the largest coal port in Indonesia with a capacity of accommodating a 210,000 DWT ship.

Now three ships - respectively with capacity of 210,000 DWT, 80,000 DWT and 10,000 DWT - could land at the port at once.

With the expansion of the port , PT BA is more competitive facing Australian coal producers.