Coal loading, unloading at Cirebon port suspended

Two of the three jetties serving coal loading and unloading activities at the Cirebon port in West Java have been suspended since Wednesday last week following widespread complaints of dust pollution from nearby local residents, Kompas reported on Friday.

Cirebon Port Head Akhriadi said that the temporary shut down of coal loading and unloading at the port would be for an indefinite period pending the completion of an environmental impact assessment by the local environmental office.

?There is possibility that the docks would no longer serve coal loading and unloading activities,? he said, adding that two of the three coal stockpile facilities at the port have also been closed.

Meanwhile, the Muara Jati 1 dock at the port will continue to serve coal loading and unloading as it is located 500 meters away from housing and office areas.

The West Java chapter of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) has previously opposed plan, proposed by the local Cirebon mayoralty administration, to shut down coal loading and unloading activities at the port as it would be detrimental to local industries such as textile.

Last year, coal unloading and loading volume at the Cirebon Port reached 3.08 million tons out of total unloading and loading volume of 4.37 million tons.

Meanwhile, Assistant General Manager at state-owned port operator PT Pelindo II Iman Wahyu said that the suspension of coal loading and unloading at the Cirebon port is made to allow time for repair work including setting up 14-meter high dust prevention net, and coal spraying and tree planting, all of which aimed at helping to deal with the dust pollution complained by the local residents. (*)