Berau Coal invites local leaders to witness mining explosion

Around 150 people including formal and informal leaders of the Berau regency, in East Kalimantan, witnessed the mining explosion activity of coal mining firm PT Berau Coal in the Sambarata village area over the weekend, the local Radar Kaltim daily reported on Monday.

The paper said that Berau Coal used explosives in opening new mining site because available heavy equipments were unable to do the job.

It added that it was for the first time the company invited local leaders and senior politicians to witness the explosion activity.

Berau Coal operation manager Budi P. Arief said that the use of explosives in the mining industry was allowed as it was meant to increase production. He said that the explosive being used is ammonium nitrate.

He said that the company had tried to minimize the negative impact of the explosion to the local area.

?For the mining world, explosion is both an art and technology. It?s a highly risky job but if its implemented correctly and safely, it provide a great help to do the job that can?t be done by mechanical or manual method,? he said.(*)