Central Kalimantan companies forced to stockpile coal due to drought
Wednesday, August 23 2006 - 01:33 AM WIB
The decrease in Barito River's level due to long drought has hampared the transportation of coal in Central Kalimantan. As a result, tens of thousands of coal owned by several companies in North Barito and Murung Raya Regency were left in stockpiles, Investor Daily reported Wednesday.
The dry season has forced forced a number of barges that usually carry thousands of tons of coal to stop their operation. ?Now, apart from the stockpiling of coal, many barges are trapped (by the shallowness of the river),? Antara News Agency quoted one local resident as saying in Muara Teweh on Tuesday.
At least 60,000 tons of coal owned by PT Marunda Graha Mineral in Laung Tuhup district in Murung Raya Regency were left at the firm's stockpile, while the coal stockpile owned by PT Victor Dua Tiga Mega in Barito Utara regency has increased to 20,000 tons. PT Suryabara Tambang Andalas and PT Rizki Tambang Semesta, also in Barito Utara, have also increased their stockpiles. (*)