28,742 tons of ?illegal? coal exported to India

About 28,742 tons of coal produced from illegal mining operations in Kotabaru, Kalimantan have been exported to India through a port in Pulau Laut Barat, Banjarmasin Pos reported on Friday.

After receiving a permit from the local mining office, the Hongkong flagged ship MV Century Sea carrying the coal left the port on August 26. But the local government complained that the exporter did not pay the contribution fees as required.

Marwan Amrullah said that the permit was issued after the exporter PT Pagaton Coal Mine agreed to pay contribution fee of about Rp 385 million to the local government. About Rp 200 million were paid before the permit was issued and the rest after the permit issuance.

?But the exporter did not meet its promise, and the remaining Rp 185 million of the total contribution had not been paid,? he said.

The head of the local customs office said that the ship was allowed to leave the port because the exporter PT Pagaton Coal Mine had received a recommendation letter from the mining office. (*)