Trump Becomes US President, PTBA Optimistic Coal Industry Is Increasingly Working

Media gathering of PT BA in Bogor, Saturday, November 30. (Photo: Mery Handayani/VOI)

BOGOR - PT Bukit Asam Tbk (PTBA) is optimistic that the prospects for the coal industry in the future will be victorious, especially with Donald Trump's re-elect as President of the United States (US) some time ago.

PTBA's Corporate Secretary, Niko Chandra, said the impact of Trump's victory would provide good hope for global geopolitical conditions from the previous heat.

Furthermore, Niko believes that with the improvement in global geopolitical conditions, the coal industry will also return to glory.

"At the global level, actually with the policy, if we look at the chosen Trump, it's the same as the previous period, it will be a bit relatively successful, yes, the coal industry," he explained in the media gathering in Bogor, Saturday, November 30.

Niko is optimistic about the prospect of coal prices by 2025. He said domestic demand would remain a major factor in driving growth, especially in line with the increase in post-COVID-19 electricity demand.

"It's just that the most important thing is to stay domestic. Because we see post-covid growth, demand, if we look at it, it continues to grow," he said.

Moreover, said Niko, there will be an increase in domestic demand supported by the construction program of 3 million houses and a 10 percent reduction in cement prices which will encourage industrial fuel needs.

In addition, according to Niko, other sectors such as fertilizer and electricity also showed an increase in demand, with PLN recording an increase in consumption. According to him, this is an indication of the bright prospects of the coal industry in the domestic market.

What is certain is that with the future conditions that are still outlook positive. Moreover, it seems that in terms of geopolitical conditions after Trump's election, there seems to be something of hope for the coal industry, the language will increase if it heats up in the past," he said.

Not only the domestic market, Niko said PTBA is also focusing on expanding the export market to countries with high demand for coal, such as Vietnam and the Philippines.

"So if these are some new countries such as Vietnam, the Philippines, so on, we will focus on it, apart from the markets that we now have, we will maintain the existing market there," he said.