Governor supports Kalimantan coal railway project despite protest

Central Kalimantan Governor Sugianto Sabran said his administration supports the planned coal railway project in the province as it will help accelerate economic development in the region.

?We must not hamper investors entering Central Kalimantan. We must support them if they can bring benefit for the province,? Sugianto said Tuesday in response to protests by a number over environmental groups who said that the coal railway project, which will pass through forest areas, will cause environmental damage. Environmental activists staged a rally in front of the Central Kalimantan governor office building last week, local reports said.

The environmentalists also complained that project developer PT Sinar Usaha Sejati (SUS), reportedly supported by Russia?s Blackspace, had started land clearing activities although it has yet to completely secured the required permits notably permit from the Ministry of Forestry and Environment as the project will clear forest areas.

Sugianto acknowledged that investors in the province including for the coal railway project must follow existing regulations by obtaining all the necessary permits. ?They must first complete the permits before starting with the project,? he said, but did not specifically say whether the land clearing activities should be temporarily halted pending acquisition of the permits. One local report said that the land clearing activities have been suspended by SUS following the complaints.

SUS is planning to build a 92-km coal railway from the Katingan Regency to the neighboring Gunung Mas regency in Central Kalimantan. The company is also planning to build a port at the Katingan River.

Meanwhile, member of Central Kalimantan Legislative Council (DPRD), Edy Rosada said that the council plans to summon SUS to clarify reports that it has started construction activities although the company has yet to secure all the necessary permits. He added that the council also plans to visit the project for investigation if SUS is proven to have breached existing regulations. (*)