Governor awards contracts to coal investors

Central Kalimantan governor Asmawi Agam awarded on Wednesday coal contracts of work to three investors for the development of coal resources in the Batara regency.

The three investors are PT Torah Antareja Mining, PT Asmin Bara Bronang and PT Asmin Coal Indo Tuhup.

After receiving the contrats, the three investors made a presentation of their coal mining projects, Kalteng Post reported.

It remains unclear if the contracts were signed by the governor or the governnor only served as a giver of the contracts while the signatory was somebody else

In the past, all mining contracts, including coal contracts, were signed by Minister of Mines and Energy on behalf of the President.

Under the autonomy law, which will come into force early next year, mining contracts will be signed by head of local governments.

In his speech during the ceremony, Asmawi called on the investors to uphold the supremacy of law, human rights and respect the local culture.

The investors should take care of the local people and act as if they were family members of the locals, the governor said.

The ceremony was attended among others by Coal Director at the Ministry of Mines and Energy Suyartono, local non-governmental activists and community leaders. (*)