“Kobatin not involved in buying illegal tin”

Director General of Energy and Mineral Resources Simon Sembiring said that there was no indication that PT Kobatin had become the buyer of tin ores produced by illegal tin miners, Neraca reported on Friday.

Sembiring said the government would not hesitate to give a strong sanction to Kobatin, if there was a proof that the company was involved in the purchase of tin ores from the illegal miners.

“But, so far we have not yet found any indication and proof that Kobatin is involved,” he said. He added that a special team had been assigned to study the possible involvement of Kobatin but could not find any proof.

Sembiring acknowledges that Kobatin had involved local residents to explore its tin mine concession in Bangka under a partnership agreement. “This is not against the law,” he said.

The government has banned export of tin ores from Bangka island to curb the growing illegal mining activities in the island. Many parties however have bought the tin ore directly from the illegal miners. (*)