PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Indonesian coal hopeful Cokal has received approval for its environmental-impact study (EIS) from the Central Kalimantan provincial government on its Bumi Barito Mineral (BBM) coal project.
The EIS covered the expected full development of the Eastern block of the BBM project, which would be developed over two stages. An initial two-million tons a year of direct ship operations would be expanded to up to six-million tons a year at a later stage.
A previously completed prefeasibility study has highlighted the potential for the BBM project to be developed as a low-cost, low operating costs metallurgical coal project.
Cokal’s executive chairperson Peter Lynch said on Monday that the approval of the EIS opened the door for the finalisation of the upgrade of the exploration permit to a production/operating mining lease.
“The approval of the EIS is a major milestone for the BBM project and is the culmination of a significant effort over the last 18 months by the Cokal team to work with the Regency and provincial governments to deliver the final document.”
The BBM project covers some 19 920 ha in the Central Kalimantan region, and is adjacent to BHP Billiton’s Joloi project. The BBM project has a resource of some 77-million tons over four seams.
Cokal was currently completing definitive studies and obtaining the necessary approvals with the aim of starting construction in October this year, which would see the BBM produce its first coal in the first half of 2014.