Court supports ban of public road for coal transport

The Supreme Court has ruled in favor of the South Sumatra provincial administration which has issued a policy banning the use of public roads for coal transport.

News portal bisnis.com quoted Head of Legal Division at the South Sumatra provincial administration, Ardani as saying Monday that the Court issued the ruling on Friday, dismissing the charges filed by coal miner PT Dizamatra Powerindo.

The coal miner has challenged the Governor Regulation No 74/2018, which has banned coal miners from using public roads in transporting their coals. The coal miners are required to use the special coal hauling road owned by PT Titan Infra Energy.

Ardani said that the Court believes that the issuance of the aforementioned regulation has been made within proper procedure and in accordance with existing laws and other regulations.

He said that the administration has banned miners from using public roads to help resolve the worsening traffic problem, curt road accidents, and prevent air and noise pollution.

Ardani said to support the coal industry, the provincial administration will ease the permit for the development of new coal hauling roads in the province, and will also set the upper and lower limit of tariff of coal hauling road owned by Titan. (*)