BHP Billiton conducts pre-feasibility study on C. Kalimantan coal project
Saturday, January 25 2003 - 01:32 AM WIB
Global resources giant BHP Billiton is conducting pre-feasibility studies and transportation studies on its huge coal exploration areas in Central Kalimantan, Bisnis Indonesia daily reported Saturday.
The daily quoted BHP Billiton project director Ray Betros as saying that the company has been asking permission to change protected forest status in some of its concession areas. Indonesian forestry law bans open pit mining in protected forest areas.
BHP Billiton has 7 coal exploration concessions in Central and East Kalimantan, which cover an area of 515,000 hectares of land.
The daily said BHP Billiton is applying for 4 more coal exploration concessions in the area.(*)