KPC to allocate US$15,000 per year for community development program

The giant coal mining firm PT Kaltim Prima Coal (KPC) in East Kalimantan plans to allocate some US$15,000 per year for community development program in 2001 and 2002, the local Kaltim Post daily reported Wednesday.

The paper quoted Salehuddin, KPC official in charge of community development (CD) program, as saying that the company?s CD was primarily aimed at improving the quality of local human resources particularly in the Sangatta and Bengalon areas.

He said that since 1999 until June 2001, there had been at least 27 training activities under the company?s CD program including those implemented in cooperation with other formal institutions and non-government organizations.

The statement came as a special team of the provincial parliament planned to visit KPC to get various information including historical data, production, CD program.

KPC is equally owned by Rio Tinto and BP. The central government has demanded KPC to immediately divest up to 51 percent shares to the local East Kalimantan administration.(*)