Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku resumes mining operations

Australian mining firm Straits Resources Limited said on Tuesday that it had recommenced limited coal mining operations in its Sebuku mine in Sebuku island, South Kalimantan, which was closed down last week due to blockade by locals.

?Limited mining operations recommenced on February 22 and had been steadily ramped up to full-scale normal operations since that time. Shiploading activities continue unaffected,? said the company in its report to The Australian Stock Exchange (ASX).

Straits has 80 percent stake in PT Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku, which runs the mine.

Banjarmasin Post daily said police were deployed to guard the mine?s workers.

Last week, hundreds of locals, backed by non governmental organizations, blockaded the mine?s road, causing the company to stop mining activities. The local residents demanded the company to pay a certain amount of fees to surrounding villages on grounds that the mining operation had caused serious damage to the environment. (Alex)