Bukit Asam Strengthens Efficiency To Maintain Positive Performance

Coal (photo: dock. intermediate)

JAKARTA - PT Bukit Asam Tbk (PTBA) continues to strengthen efficiency in the field of operation and production in order to maintain positive performance. Various steps have been taken to make the company more effective.

In the first quarter of 2024, the realization of the locus nisbah ratio (Stripping Ratio) is maintained at the level of 6.3x. As a comparison, the ratio of locus nisbah in the same period in 2023 is 7.1x. The company also cut land and coal transport distances, one of which is the use of conveyors.

PTBA also optimizes the role of subsidiaries engaged in the mining services sector, namely PT Satria Bahana Sarana (SBS). Throughout January-March 2024, PT SBS' contribution reached 1.5 million tons or 21 percent of total production. This number increased by 29 percent on an annual basis.

"These efficiency efforts create space for increased profitability, as well as make the company more agile in facing the challenges of the coal mining industry going forward," said Corporate Secretary of PT Bukit Asam Tbk (PTBA), Niko Chandra in his statement, Thursday, June 27.

Niko added that PTBA also has the Eco Mechanized Mining Program, aka replacing mining equipment that uses fossil fuels to become electric.

Some of the electrical-based tools that have been used by PTBA include 7 Electric Excavators of the type Shovel PC-3000, 40 Dump Trucks of 100 Tons of hybrid ( Diesel and Electricity) class, and 6 Electric-based Mining Pumps. From this Eco Mechanized Mining Program, the company can save on the use of diesel-type fuel and reduce emissions.

In addition, there is an E-Mining Reporting System Program, namely a production reporting system in real time and online so as to minimize conventional monitoring using fuel.

Thanks to these efficiency efforts, PTBA's Cash Cost in the first quarter of 2024 fell by 10 percent to Rp867,000 per ton. For comparison, the Cash Cost in the first quarter of 2023 was Rp965,000 per ton.

"The company is focused on carrying out sustainable mining practices, in accordance with the company's vision, namely world-class energy companies that care about the environment. We are optimistic that we can maintain good performance and are in line with the target until the end of 2024," concluded Niko.