PT Bukit Asam Tbk (PTBA)’s coal downstreaming project into dimethyl ether (DME) is still underway. Currently, the state-owned coal issuer is still exploring opportunities for collaboration with several potential new partners following the withdrawal of Air Products and Chemicals Inc from the project.
“So we are also currently still looking for new initiatives with dme with several potential new partners,” said SVP Project Management Office PTBA, Setiadi Wicaksono in the Indonesia Mineral and Energy Conference discussion event held by Aspebindo, Tuesday (19/12).
As is known, Air Products and Chemicals, Inc withdrew from the coal downstream project to become DME with PTBA in March 2023. Initially, the two of them planned to work on this project in Tanjung Enim with a total investment of US$ 2.1 billion or the equivalent of IDR 30 trillion.
With utilization of 6 million tons of coal per year, this project can produce 1.4 million tons of DME per year.
PTBA has prepared an industrial area for downstreaming located in Tanjung Enim. Regarding coal supply matters for the project, PTBA is confident with coal reserves reaching 3 billion tons.
” Indeed, Air Product said at that time that they wanted to focus on cleaner energy, so they decided to withdraw from fossil-based projects,” explained Setiadi.
On a different occasion last weekend (15/12), the Director of coal Business Development at the Directorate General of Mineral and coal (Minerba) of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Lana Saria, said that the government continues to make efforts to introduce PTBA to potential potential partners. .
” PTBA may still be looking for suitability from a third party who can carry out its project plans,” said Lana in a discussion event entitled The Strategic Role of coal in the Energy Transition which was held by the Energy & Mining Editor Society (E2S), Friday (15/12).
Image source >>> ANTARA FOTO/NOVA WAHYUDI
Source >>> https://industri.kontan.co.id/news/proyek-hilirisasi-dme-bukit-asam-ptba-jajaki-kerjasama-beberapa-calon-mitra
Source https://djakarta-miningclub.com