Coalminer MHU to clarify stance on alleged environmental damages in E. Kalimantan

Officials of Kutai Kartanegara regency in East Kalimantan and coalminer PT Multi Harapan Utama (MHU) will meet Monday to discuss the company?s reluctance to repair environmental damages in its mining locations as demanded by local authorities, local daily Kaltim Post reported Saturday.

Kutai Kartanegara vice regent Samsuri Aspar and Rini Budi Sayekti, head of the regency environmental office, will attend the meeting, Rini was quoted as saying Friday.

MHU has coal mining operations coalmines in Kutai Kartanegara.

Rini said they questioned why the company had refused to sign a document which obliged it to repair environmental damages in its mining sites. She said Monday?s meeting could turn out strict measures against MHU if it remained unwilling to improve the environmental condition in its mining locations.

Meanwhile, Kutai Kartanegara regency council Friday sent a letter to regent Syaukani HR, urging him to soon give punishment to MHU.

The regency administration over the past weeks had asked HMU and four other coalminers to repair environmental damages in their mining sites. The four were PT Fajar Bumi Sakti, PT Baiduri Enterprises, PT Tanito Harum and PT Kitadin.

Bapedalda recently gave Kitadin and Multi Harapan Utama six months to improve the environmental condition in the mining locations. (*)