BKS allowed to mine coal at the heart of Samarinda city

The government has allowed PT Bara Kaltim Sejahtera (BKS) to develop coal mine near the main sport stadium in Palaran, Samarinda, the provincial capital of East Kalimantan, a local newspaper reported on Saturday.

Nusyirwan Ismail, the deputy of the Samarinda mayor, said in Samarinda on Friday that the permit had been given after the company, which is owned by the local government, agreed to take care of the possible impact of the mining activities on the environment.

"The coal deposit in the Palaran area reaches about 0.5 million tons, and the company is expected to finish the mining activities in a year and carry out rehabilitation immediately after the mining operation is completed," he said.

The mining activities will be conducted under cooperation with PT Insani Baraperkasa, an East Kalimantan-based coal miner.

Nusyirwan promised that that the city administration would take a close control so that the mining activities would bring a negative impact on the environment. (*)