C. Kalimantan asked to solve problem faced by BHP?s unit
Thursday, November 7 2002 - 03:01 AM WIB
The Central Kalimantan provincial council (DPRD) has called on the local administration to find solution to the problem faced by coal miner PT Maruwai Coal (MC), a unit of Australian mining giant BHP Billiton, whose mining exploration area had turned out to be part of a protected forest, East Kalimantan-based Banjarmasin Post daily reported on Thursday.
The protected forest is located in Laung Tuhup and Murung districts in Central Kalimantan, provincial council member Bambang Suryadi was quoted as saying.
MC?s executives and DPRD members became aware of the actual location of the firm?s exploration projects only on Wednesday when the company made a presentation at the council, Bambang said.
Bambang said MC had discovered coal reserves of some 100 million tons in an area of 8,634 hectares, which is situated in the protected forest.
The newspaper said the company had invested more than US$8 million for exploration projects in Laung Tuhup and Murung.
The current forestry law disallows economic activities in protected forest areas. (*)