Bukit Soeharto park will not be opened for coal mining

Coal-rich forestry park Bukit Soeharto in Kutai Kartanagara, East Kalimantan, will not be opened for mining activities and will be protected as a conservation area, the Kompas newspaper reported in its Friday edition.

This was disclosed by the Kutai Kartanagara's regent-elect Syaukani in Tenggarong on Thursday. He was also the regent of Kutai Kartanagara during the period of 1999-2004.

The area, which is estimated to have around 120 million metric tons of coal deposits, has been eyed by many mining investors for many years.

Syaukani said he was very serious in his plan to conduct a study on the social and economic conservation aspects of the park.

"Since the government has declared Bukit Soeharto as conservation area, I will not recommend for coal mining activities," Syaukani said.(*)