Dry season not affected Arutmin’s mining operations

Though the water level in the River Satui and other rivers in South Kalimantan has dropped due to dry season, the operations of coal producer PT Arutmin Indonesia were not affected, the Kompas newspaper reported in its Monday edition.

Arutmin’s public relations officer Zainuddin JR Lubis said there is an indication that illegal mining has been on the rise during dry season because the illegal miners are using the land route, which is not slippery.

“In fact, the transportation of illegal coal is increasing during this dry season,” Lubis told the Kompas on Sunday.

As a result, Arutmin must fight for water route for its coal barges on the river with illegal barges. The crux of the problem is that Arutmin must secure its water route from illegal miners.

“Illegal miners always want to use the Arutmin ‘s route. So frankly speaking, they are disturbing us,” Lubis said.

However, Arutmin’s transportation of coal was not affected by illegal miners. Just it has to share its route with them, Lubis said.

Due to higher prices, both the legal and illegal miners have increased their production.

"We have now also expanded our operation, by not only mining for bituminous coal (high calorie) but also sub-bituminous coal (low calorie)," Lubis said.

“Arutmin is planning to produce 18 million metric tons of coal in 2004, much higher than the 14 million metric tons of coal in last year.

Meanwhile, the water level in several small and big rivers has been dropping drastically in Banjar regency in South Kalimantan. (*)