Gunung Bayan resumes operations as villagers end blockade

East Kalimantan coal producer PT.Gunung Bayan Pratama Coal (GBPC) has resumed its mining operations late Tuesday after villagers ended blockade to the mine?s hauling road, a company official said.

Michael Sumarijanto, Commissioner of Bayan Group which controls GBPC told Petromindo.Com that the mine?s operations had returned back to normal and no force majeure was declared.

Gunung Bayan was forced to halt its mining operation Monday after angry residents blocked the main roads leading to the company's mining site. The closure of the access roads had brought the company's mining operation to a standstill as all the excavators were not able to enter the mining area to conduct mining activities.

GBPC located in West Kutai regency is unit of Bayan Goup which belongs to Malaysian businessman Dato Low Tuck Kwong. GBPC has planned to produce four million tons of coal in this year. (godang)