ESDM Approves PTBA To Dredge 151 Million Tons Of Coal By 2026

PT Bukit Asam Tbk (PTBA) has pocketed a three-year Work Plan and Budget (RKAB) from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM). In the RKAB, it is known that ESDM approves that PTBA will extract at least 151 million tons of coal by 2026.

"I have conveyed 41 million tons in 2024, in 2025 according to the RKAB of around 50 million tons, and in 2026 we will increase again by almost 60 million tons," said PTBA President Director Arsal Ismail to the media crew quoted on Thursday, May 9.

Arsal said, for 2024, the production target in RKAB has no difference with the target set the previous year which was set at 41 million tons. Meanwhile, the realization of PTbA's production in 2023 managed to exceed the target of 41.9 million tons.

For information, in the first three months of 2024, PTBA recorded a realization of coal production of 7.3 million tons or grew 7 percent compared to the same period the previous year which was only 6.8 million tons.

As for coal sales, PTBA targets the realization of 43 million tons this year. One of them, by expanding the market to several end users to potential export markets such as Cambodia, China, Vietnam, Japan, and India.

"We have entered Vietnam, Cambodia, China, India, Japan. They continue to develop and remain in touch," he added.

Just so you know, PTBA in the first quarter of 2024 was able to realize coal sales of 9.7 million tons, an increase of 10 percent compared to the first quarter of 2023. Of that figure, 3.8 million tons were successfully realized for exports.

The increase in exports occurred in a number of countries, ranging from India, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, to Malaysia. On the other hand, domestic market absorption (DMO) was recorded at 5.9 million tons.

Meanwhile, coal sales throughout 2023 reached 37 million tons or 17 percent higher than the sales achievement of the previous year.

"The company recorded export sales of 15.6 million tons, an increase of 25 percent compared to 2022. Meanwhile, domestic sales were recorded at 21.4 million tons or grew 12 percent yoy," concluded Arsal Ismail.