East Kalimantan to freeze permits of miners using public roads

East Kalimantan Governor Rudy Mas’ud has warned that the provincial government will freeze the business permits of mining companies found using public roads to transport or haul coal.

“We have a direct mandate from the law that mining activities or coal hauling must use dedicated roads and are not allowed to use public roads,” Rudy said in Samarinda on Friday.

He stressed that the ban on using public roads is not merely an advisory measure, but a mandatory requirement under national regulations that must be strictly complied with.

The obligation for mining companies to use dedicated hauling roads is stipulated under Law No. 3 of 2020, which amends Law No. 4 of 2009 on Mineral and Coal Mining. The regulation explicitly requires holders of Mining Business Permits (IUP) and Special Mining Business Permits (IUPK) to provide their own dedicated infrastructure to ensure public order and safety.

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The East Kalimantan provincial government has prepared a tiered set of administrative sanctions, ranging from written warnings to the suspension of operational activities for companies found violating the rule.

“Permit revocation or freezing will be imposed without hesitation if serious violations continue to be committed by mining companies that disregard state regulations,” Rudy said.

He said the ultimatum was issued as a preventive measure to protect public safety from the risk of traffic accidents involving heavy mining vehicles.

Mining truck traffic on public roads has also contributed to accelerated damage to public infrastructure, which is built and maintained using state funds, he added.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak