Adaro ends force majeure status at South Kalimantan mine

Indonesia's top coal producer PT Adaro Indonesia late on Tuesday lifted the force majeure status at its South Kalimantan mine following successful negotiation with demonstrators who had blocked its haul road.

?Coal haulage which has recommenced on a limited basis on Feb. 29 is now back to normal level with no interruption to truck cycling,? administration manager Priyadi said in a statement.

Hundreds of Ku?u and Tamiyang villagers blocked Adaro?s hauling road on Feb. 24, demanding the company to pay compensation for damages allegedly caused by Adaro?s operations. The blockade forced Adaro to stop operations and declared a force majeure status later in the next day.

The villagers ended their blockade Feb. 26, but Adaro chose not to immediately resume mining operations on fear that the villagers would resume the blockade as negotiation with the villagers had not been concluded.

Adaro, which operates a giant mine in South Kalimantan produced 22.5 million tons of coal last year, with most of production went to export market. (Hotma)