At least 2 million tons of coal wasted in East Kalimantan a year

At least two million tons of coal produced by companies along the Mahakam River, East Kalimantan are wasted every year due to the lack of appropriate technology in the production process, according to the province?s mining office.

Istiardjo, the chairman of the mining office, said that about 200,000 tons or between 10 percent and 15 percent of the production of each coal mining company were wasted every year.

?If the price of coal is sold at $20 per ton, each company will lose about Rp 40 billion a year due to the production waste,? he added. At present there are six mining firms operating along the Mahakam River.

The production waste, which is mostly in the form of coal sand, has also caused pollution in the river, he said, adding that the coal mining companies should find an appropriate technology which could reduce the production waste so that they would not only more income but also help protect the environment.

According to the office, the coal reserves in East Kalimantan reach a total of 5 billion tons. About 150 million had been mined at a production level of between 10 and 15 million tons per year. (*)