Bayan?s PIK resumes coal mining operations

IDX-listed coal mining firm PT Bayan Resources said on Friday that mining operations of its East Kalimantan unit PT Perkasa Inakakerta (PIK) has returned to normal as the local authorities has lifted a blockade on haul road, The Jakarta Post reported.

Bayan director Jenny Quantero haul road that had been blockaded for 12 days by forest rangers since August 10 had been reopened coal transportation from mine to port had resumed.

Rangers closed PIK?s haul road after interim East Kutai Regent Irsan Noor ordered PIK to halt its operations in some of their concessions in East Kutai, claiming it had violated the Forestry Law by operating in an area without a proper license.

Jenny said the blockade did not damage the company?s coal production.

?Our distribution was disrupted slightly (because of the road block), but overall our production remained fairly normal. The blockade had no impact on Bayan?s total production as PIK is a new mine and is not one of our major production sources.?

PIK begun operating in April 2007 in an area covering more than 20,037 hectares, and is one of several mining subsidiaries of Bayan.(*)