Arutmin partially resumes production in Senakin mine

South Kalimantan based coal-mining firm PT. Arutmin Indonesia had partially resumed production at Senakin mine as protesting ex-workers eased up blockade at the mine.

?East Senakin mine had resumed production Sunday, but we are still unable to work for 24 hours-shift as there is not yet guarantee from the police that we may conduct operation safely at night,? Justianus Sitanggang, Thiess Contractor?s deputy-project manager Senakin site told Petromindo.Com via phone Monday.

Normally East Senakin site produced 9,000 ? 10,000 tonnes of coal per day.

Sitanggang said production from West Senakin mine is still halted as mob including Thiess Contractor?s ex-workers are still gathering at the mine site.

?Thus far the crowd do nothing, but we decide not to resume operations until the crowd can be dispersed,? said Sitanggang. West Senakin normally produced around 6,000 tonnes of coal per day.

?However, efforts have been made to resume production at West Senakin,? said Sitanggang.

Ex-workers of Thiess Contractor, mining contractor of Arutmin Indonesia, blockaded Senakin mine since August 2, causing total production halt at the mine.

Thiess fired 633 workers in June after they refused to return to work. Apparently some the dismissed workers are not satisfied with the settlement and tried to disrupt the company?s operation.

Arutmin Indonesia, which is controlled by JSX listed PT. Bumi Resources,operates Satui and Senakin mine with combined output of about 30,000 tonnes per day. The company had been repeatedly hit by strikes, blockades and illegal mining activities that operate freely within its mining site with the back up of local government apparatus. (godang/kominta)