Practical completion of the Tabang Coal Briquetting plant has now been achieved. On the 1 May the Thiess Alliance team handed over the plant to owners Kaltim Supa Coal (a White Energy - Bayan Resources JV).

The owner will now commence Load Commissioning and start up of the plant with a view to commence production of briquettes sometime in late June 09.

The project was very much a one team approach with all aspects of the Indonesian business unit pulling together to deliver this pioneering technology within the 16 months. Challenges of the project included a very remote location combined with year round high rain fall, averaging 5 meters per annum. Successful delivery of a pilot project in such an extreme environment is a testament to Thiess' strong capabilities to deliver a quality product safely and on time in tough conditions.

The remote location meant extensive logistics coordination of major plant and equipment deliveries from all around the world; Germany, UK, USA, Australia, Malaysia, China and Vietnam. Once equipment arrived in Indonesia it was barged to site, which involved a 10 -14 day sailing time from the port at TCI's Balikpapan Support Facility up through the Mahakam Delta and 200 Kms up Kalimantan's smaller Belayan River.

Once fully operational the Tabang Processing Facility will produce 1 million tones of briquettes per annum. The facility produces cleaner coal by enhancing relatively poor quality coal and significantly increasing its energy efficiency from 30% to 200% through the patented low cost binderless briquetting process.