Indonesia lifts high-CV thermal coal benchmark for H1 Sept

Indonesia's Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) has set divergent Harga Batubara Acuan (HBA) thermal coal reference prices for the first half of September, with the ministry raising high-CV grade prices after two straight declines, while mid- and low-CV grades have been reduced from the previous record highs, according to the ministry's release published on August 31.

The ESDM fixed the HBA for 6,322 kcal/kg GAR coal – the benchmark high-CV grade – at $126.87/tonne for H1 September, up $2.81/t or 2.3% from $124.06/t in H2 August. The increase ends two consecutive reductions the ministry had made for this grade, Mysteel Global notes. The remaining HBA prices