Coal mining firm accused of practicing monopoly
Wednesday, March 15 2000 - 04:00 AM WIB
The Indonesian Ship Owners Association (INSA) Samarinda branch has filed a complaint to the ministry of transportation against coal mining firm PT Indominco Mandiri which allegedly practicing a monopoly in the coal sea transportation by appointing PT Tirta Samudra Caraka as its sole agent for coal transportation.
Indominco is owned by the Salim Group conglomerate.
Kaspul Anwar of INSA said that before the monopoly started, ships could freely transport Indominco's coal products by only paying a port fee of between US$5,000-$7,500.
But since Indominco appointed Tirta as its sole ship agent, the fee surged to between $20,000-40,000, Kapsul said, adding that the ship had to pay the fee to Tirta.
Kapsul said that there's around eight coal shipping agent in East Kalimantan. And all of them must use the Tirta flag if they are to transport Indominco's coal products. (*)