Production at Straits Asia Resources Sebuku Coal Mine in Indonesia is expected to improve this quarter with more by-pass coal exposure at the lower level of the pit.

The wash plant at the mine has achieved throughput of 400 tonnes per hour which is higher than the target of 350 tonne per hour h as a consequence of a higher utilization rate.

The improvement will follow a strong March quarter with higher than budgeted production of 951,000 tonnes and sales of 850,000 tonnes.

The lower sales figure was due to the delay in arrival of one vessel which had not finished loading at the end of the March.

The company’s Jembayan Coal Mine had an excellent production performance in the March quarter notwithstanding the challenges of integration since acquisition of the mine in late December 2007.

Jembayan produced a total of 1.197 million tonnes of coal and coal sales of 1.185 million tonnes.

Since acquiring the Jembayan coal mine, the company has placed a strong focus on exploration to provide a better understanding of the geology of the mining areas to assist with the establishment of an effective and sustainable long term mine plan.

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