<article><p class="lead">Coal production in Indonesia's Jambi province will likely fall short of its target this year. It has produced only 11.6mn t in January-August, accounting for just 32pc of its 36mn t target for this year.</p><p>Coal output in the province continues to be constrained by inadequate transportation capabilities, according to the Jambi government. Unlike other Indonesian coal producing regions, which have a robust network of privately-owned coal hauling roads in places like Kalimantan or a railway system as seen in Sumatra, Jambi's coal delivery network mainly relies on hauling trucks which pass through the province's main public thoroughfares.</p><p>The province currently has 11 coal loading terminals for private use and three coal stockpiling locations at Talang Duku Port, Jambi's main coal loading terminal. Each terminal is designed to accommodate 720 trucks/day but the provincial government estimates that over 12,000 trucks are registered to operate in the region.</p><p>This has resulted in hours-long traffic jams because of the buildup of coal trucks on the province's highways, causing delays in coal deliveries out of the province. The high volume of trucks and widespread overloading has also led to road damage, worsening the traffic situation. </p><p>Consequently, the provincial government has limited the number of trucks that can travel in a single day, and has halted coal transportation for several days to alleviate road congestion and expedite road repairs.</p><p>Three private companies have signed agreements with the provincial government to build a dedicated coal road to divert coal trucks away from public roads. The road was originally projected for completion in December this year, but delays in land acquisition and construction work have pushed its completion to the second quarter of 2024. </p><p><i>By Antonio delos Reyes</i></p><p></p></article>
