Kotabaru to issue new coal mining contracts

The Kotabaru district administration in South Kalimantan plans to issue new coal exploitation mining contracts (KPs) soon, according to deputy district head Akhmad Rizali.

"We're still making the inventory which companies would be given the KPs. The local mining office is still collecting the necessary data," Akhmad said, referring to the local office of the ministry of mineral resources and energy.

But he added that the KPs would particularly be issued to mining companies had earlier obtained exploration licenses in the Batulicin area.

The new autonomy law launched in early January had transferred the authority in issuing KPs from the central government in Jakarta to district or mayoralty administration.(R. Amoros)