Kobatin cries for help to curb illegal mining in Bangka

Tin mining company PT Kobatin, which is majority owned by Malaysia Corp Bhd of Malaysia, has called for support from Bangka regency authorities in Babel province to curb illegal tin mining in the company?s contract area, local daily Bangka Post reported Wednesday.

The paper said that at least 1,300 illegal miners were currently in operation in Kobatin?s concession area on Bangka Island. They even carried out mining activities in the company?s reclamation sites.

Kobatin operates tin mines in Bangka and nearby Belitung Island, also part of Babel province. It also runs a tin smelting plant in Bangka.

Kobatin?s spokesman Isnaidi Syamsumin said Illegal miners had ignored their request that they stop doing business in the company?s mining sites. ?We could only suggest that they follow existing regulations,? Isnaidi said on Monday in a meeting between Kobatin?s executives and local government officials.

Another executive of Kobatin, Nana Syahbana, said in the same meeting that local authorities needed to support them to obtain licenses for illegal miners.

Aside from Kobatin, state owned integrated mining firm PT Timah also operates in Bangka and Belitung. Timah holds a 25-percent stake in Kobatin. (*)