REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, NUSA DUA -- The government will immediately build 14 coal export seaports in Sumatra and Kalimantan to monitor coal exports, Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry's Director General of Minerals and Coal Dr R. Sukhyar remarked here on Monday.

"The 14 ports will also help to curb illegal coal exports," he stated while opening the 20th Coaltrans Asia coal industry conference.

Sukhyar admitted that there was still a discrepancy in data on coal exports at the ministry of energy and mineral resources and the directorate general of customs and excise as a result of which the value of royalty received by the state was not optimal.

Seven ports will be developed in Sumatra and seven others in Kalimantan based upon the locations of coal mining industries in the regions.

Sukhyar noted that the development of coal export ports will utilize the existing infrastructure so that the related costs can be reduced.

The plan is part of a cooperation project between the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and the Ministry of Transportation, while the implementation will be carried out by the Ministry of Transportation, he pointed out.

Sukhyar hoped that the special coal ports can balance domestic needs and exports.

The domestic needs of coal this year is forecast to reach 95.5 million tons, up from merely 65 million tons last year.

According to Sukhyar, the increasing domestic demand can still be met as the target of national coal production this year has been set at 390-420 million tons.

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