Indonesia's PTBA posts 22% drop in Q1 coal output on rain impact

Indonesia's state-controlled coal miner PT Bukit Asam Tbk (PTBA) suffered a 22% drop in first-quarter coal production after heavy rains had disrupted mining operations earlier this year. Yet Q1 sales volumes remained largely stable on year as the company drew on inventories and tightened cost controls, it has reported.

PTBA produced 6.62 million tonnes of coal in January-March, down from 8.45 million tonnes a year earlier, according to its quarterly statement issued on April 30. Total sales slipped by only 1% on year to 10.17 million tonnes, however. President Director Arsal Ismail said unusually high rainfall at the beginning