The Indonesian Coal Mining Association (APBI) has forecast that the country’s coal output this year will increase by 20 percent to 400 million tonnes on the basis of the rising global demands.

APBI vice president Herman Kasih said foreign markets play an important role in Indonesia’s coal marketing strategy in the years to come although the domestic demand is also rising.

Indonesia is among the world’s top coal producers. The country expects to export about 80 percent of its coal output this year.-VNA