SINGAPORE, Aug. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Platts, a leading source of benchmark price assessments in energy, petrochemicals and metals, today expanded its suite of power sector pricing references for India, China and the greater Asia-Pacific region with its launch of a new price assessment for Indonesia-loaded thermal coal cargoes.

Known as Platts Kalimantan 4200, the new assessment reflects the commercial and merchantable value of thermal coals loading free-on-board (FOB) in Kalimantan, Indonesia, one week to 45 days forward. It applies to coal with an energy-producing caloric value of 4200 kilocalories per kilogram, total sulfur content of 0.6%, typical ash content of 7% and total moisture of 35%, on an as-received basis. Minimum cargo size reflected is 60,000 metric tons.

"With coal from Colombia and the U.S. flooding into Asia, we believe the Kalimantan 4200 provides the Asia-Pacific market with a key in-region barometer of thermal coal values," said James O'Connell, Platts senior managing editor, international coal. "In particular, India and China, both with aggressive power plant builds underway, will likely find it an important valuation tool."

Platts first introduced Indonesian-focused thermal coal assessments more than 10 years ago with the launch of its higher calorific Kalimantan 5900 and Kalimantan 5000 assessments. Both of these assessments are widely referenced by the international market and the Kalimantan 5900 forms part of Indonesia's Harga Batubara Acuan (HBA), the government's formula for pricing coal for domestic consumption.

India and China, though major producers of coal, are also the world's largest importers of the commodity. Indonesia, Australia, the United States, Colombia, Russia and South Africa are among the world's top coal producers.

"Demand for low calorific thermal coal has surged to a 100 million-metric-ton market since the global financial crisis as countries with growing populations have chased after cheaper coal and more cost-effective electricity production," O'Connell explained. Lower calorific coals do not burn as clean as higher calorific coals, but they tend to be more economical, he added.

The Platts Kalimantan 4200 assessment will be published in the daily Platts Coal Trader International, in Platts Market Data-Coal, a flexible format, end-of-day data service and in real-time news service, Platts European Power Alert.

Platts introduced its first India-focused thermal coal assessments in August 2010, with the launch of its six CFR (cost and freight) India East and India West Coal and associated freight rate assessments, aimed at power producers, cement manufacturers, coal traders and ship brokers.

Platts' coal assessments are based on all-day market monitoring and data collection of bids, offers and transactions determined by buyers and sellers in the open market. Assessments are end-of-trading-day values from the physical market.

The methodology for Platts' thermal coal price assessments was developed in consultation with a cross-section of key industry players, draws on Platts' century of experience in benchmark price reporting in energy, and is underpinned by robust quality guidelines.

For more information on coal, visit the Platts website www.platts.com.

About Platts: Founded in 1909, Platts is a leading global provider of energy, petrochemicals and metals information and a premier source of benchmark prices for the physical and futures markets. Platts' news, pricing, analytics, commentary and conferences help customers make better-informed trading and business decisions and help the markets operate with greater transparency and efficiency. Customers in more than 150 countries benefit from Platts' coverage of the carbon emissions, coal, electricity, oil, natural gas, metals, nuclear power, petrochemical, and shipping markets. A division of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP), Platts is headquartered in New York with approximately 900 employees in more than 15 offices worldwide. Additional information is available at http://www.platts.com.

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CONTACT:
Kathleen Tanzy
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SOURCE Platts

SOURCE: Platts