Witoro Soelarno, secretary at the directorate general of mineral, coal and geothermal at the energy and mines ministry, said: “We have received a letter from the firm saying they are resigning from the project and plan to sell their interest to a third party. It would be business-to-business and the government will not meddle in.”
During June 2009, the company informed that it would not proceed with the Haju trial coal mine in Central Kalimantan, since the mine does not fit with its long-term investment strategy.
Indra Diannanjaya, president director of PT Lahai Coal, which is part of BHP’s Maruwai coal project, said: “We are continuing to review our commercial options in relation to the project, including potential sale of our interests. We are seeking expression of interest from a number of parties in relation to this option.”
Few companies have expressed interest in purchasing the coal project owned by BHP Billiton. Saratoga capital, Indonesia-based private equity fund, had interest in buying the project, said its chairman Edwin Soeryadjaya.
