Denpasar (Antara Bali) - The government is planning to reduce coal production, citing low demand in the global market, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Jero Wacik said.
"We will discuss the plan further since China which is the largest coal consumer has imposed a ban on imported coal," he said after a golf tournament for Jero Wacik Cup at Kediri, Tabanan district, Bali province, on Sunday.
China also has begun mining coal from its mining areas with a production capacity of 750 million tons a year, he said.
In addition, a number of European countries also have reduced their coal imports because of the current economic crisis, he said.
The minister said the plan will be discussed in the upcoming Asian coal conference (Coaltrans Asia) so that the low demand will not affect domestic coal producers. (M038)
