76 companies to prospect coal in Lahat, South Sumatra

As many as 76 companies have received mining permits to explore and produce coal in Lahat regency, South Sumatra, but only a few of them have begun their exploration activities, Kompas reported on Monday.

Lahat regent Syaifuddin Aswari Rivai?I said on Sunday that the lack of infrastructure facilities especially roads had delayed exploration activities of the 76 companies. ?Only three of them have begun exploration activities. Others are mostly still preparing their exploration works,? he said.

Lahat, one of regencies in South Sumatra, is estimated to hold coal reserves of 2,174 million tons. At present, the regency?s coal production is about 800,000 tons a year.

Aswari hoped that the central and provincial governments would soon realize the plan to build a railway track to transport coal from mining areas in the regency to Tanjung Api-api port, which is located about 270 kilometers from Lahat.

?We also hope the central government will be able to speed up the construction of a 4-meter wide road to connect the mining areas,? he said. (*)