Jorong Barutama agrees to meet local residents' demand

Thousands of workers from several villages near the location of the coal mine site of PT Jorong Barutama Greston (JBG) in Pelaihari regency, South Kalimantan ended their protest on Wednesday after the company agreed to meet their demand, Banjarmasin Pos daily reported on Friday.

JBG is a subsidiary of Thai energy conglomerate Banpu Plc.

The daily reported that the management of PT JBG agreed to meet their demand including to provide electricity supply to Swarangan village, to help local residents to construct rice fields, to build a school building, a health center and to recruit unskilled workers from the surrounding villages.

The negotiation was held with the presence of local regent Adrinsyah, the local police chief, and the head of the local legislative council, Masani Abda, who came to the site on the request of the residents.

The residents earlier refused to join the negotiations if the head of the legislative council did not witness the negotiation process. Masani then came to the site later in the afternoon after being contacted through his mobile phone by the company's management. (*)