Arutmin releases parts of coal mine in South Kalimantan

Coal mining company PT Arutmin Indonesia, a subsidiary of Australian diversified business group BHP Pty Ltd, has released some parts of its coal mine in South Kalimantan to the government to support the government's efforts to stop illegal mining activities.

Company president Ken Ferrel said in a letter recently sent to the Ministry of Mines and Energy, which is made available to several reporters, that the move was taken in response to the government's call as part of the efforts to end illegal mining activities in its coal mine.

The company released a total of 10,892 hectares of land in the villages of Sunggup, Sembuluan, Sembelimbingan and Pantai Baru in the Pulau Laut Utara district. This made the company's coal mine to shrink to 59,259 hectares.

Ferrel said the company was moved to release the land after a meeting with the ministry's coal director Suyartono where the company was informed about the government's plan to provide lands to small-scale mining ventures.

Arutmin has seen illegal mining activities on the rise at its coalmine over the past several years amid the economic crisis and the government's lacking ability to stop the activities. (*)