Korindo hopes to get forestry permits for coal units soon

By Enzharani Firsticia Siregar

PT Persada Kapuas Prima (PKP) and PT Pesona Bara Cakrawala (PBC), two of four coal mining units of Korindo Group with concessions in Kapuas Regency, Central Kalimantan, hope the required forestry permits to be finally issued by the end of this year, a group official said.

PKP and PBC, whose mines are located in forest areas, have been waiting for the forestry permit since 2012.

The two other Korindo coal units namely PT Pasir Bara Prima and PT Cakrawala Bara Persada operate mines outside forest areas, thus do not require forestry permit from the Ministry of Forestry and Environmental Affairs.

"We hope by the end of this year the forestry permits will be issued. Afterwards, we will start building the infrastructure like hauling road, and hope to start selling coal after two years,? said Gesiu Nicholas Manurung, Legal Counsel of Korindo Group, Monday.

Total resources of the four coal firms are estimated at 400 million tons, with 5,400 ADB calorie level, in a combined mining area of 12,000 hectares.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak