Cokal seeks to upgrade forest permit
Thursday, October 31 2013 - 01:19 PM WIB
ASX-listed Cokal Limited announced on Thursday it has to upgrade the forestry permit its coking coal project in Murung Raya regency, Central Kalimantan from Forest Utilization Approval permit (Ijin Pinjam Pakai Kawasan Hutan or IPPKH) to Forest Rent Use permit.
IPPKH is for exploration stage, while Forest Rent Use permit for operation/production stage, the firm said in a statement.
The project is developed by the firm through PT Bumi Barito Mineral (BBM), which is 60 percent owned by Cokal, 40 percent by an unspecified local partner.
Cokal said that during last quarter it received full written approval from the Governor of Central Kalimantan. The provincial government approval is the final approval required before the central government can approve the upgrade of the forestry permit.
Once granted, the upgraded forestry permit will enable construction of the BBM coking coal project to commence. In line with the integrated development of the BBM project, the application to upgrade the forestry permit includes the forestry areas associated with the development of the BBM mine, haul road and river barging terminal.
?Approval has been obtained from the regency government mines inspector for the location of both the explosives magazine and fuel storage facilities. For the explosives magazine and fuel storage facilities further operational approvals will be obtained? the firm said.
Cokal further said it has received full approval for the BBM river barge loading facility from the regency and provincial governments for the port location. The provincial government approval is the final approval required before the central government can approve the location of the Port. The central government approval is currently in progress.
Cokal has received a CNC Certificate from the director general of minerals and coal formalizing the previous award of CNC status.
?The boundary marking of the BBM concession has been completed and formally presented to the Murung Raya mining office. This boundary marking is a condition of the concession and a prerequisite for the issue of the Forest Rent Use Permit (Operation / Production stage),? the firm said.
Editing by Johannes Simbolon