A total of 718,000 tonnes of coal was produced at the mine during the September quarter, an improvement on production from the June quarter that reached 623,000t after heavy rainfall at the site.
Annual production forecast for the mine has been re-evaluated to 3.4–3.6 million tonnes with expansion plans at the mine progressing in a bid to boost production to 6Mt a year by 2009.
Straits is poised to expand its Indonesian coal presence with a memorandum of understanding signed for the acquisition of an East Kalimantan-based thermal coal mining business expected to be secured by the end of the year.
Furthermore, the company's joint venture firm, Far East Energy Corporation, has signed an exclusive MoU with the Government of Brunei Darussalam to complete coal resource exploration work in Brunei.