Barito Utara's Coal Sales Total 3.5 Million Tons

Muara Teweh, Dec 3 (ANTARA) - The regency of Barito Utara of Central Kalimantan, recorded sales of coal at 3.5 million ton in the first 11 months of the year. 04.012,18 metrik ton. The coal was produced by 14 companies, Juni Rantetampang of the district mining and energy office, said here on Monday. Juni said coal transport is still a problem from the interior area of Central Kalimantan . "Coal producers rely only on river transport in the Barito river," she said. Coal loaded barges are often forced to stop as the depth of the river became too shallow in some points during dry season, she added. Big barge or vessels could not sail in the river when the water surface declines and when the water surface rises in rainy days, the vessel could not pass below the bridge of KH Hasan Basri Muara Teweh, she said. Currently the coal price falls in international market that producers chose to slowdown production in the district , she said. Coal sales recorded by the district in 2011 totaled 2,399,563 tons in 2011 , up from 2,036,892 tons in the previous year.