Kutai Kartanegera regency extends coal barging ops ban

Kutai Kartanegara regency has extended the ban of coal barging operations on the upper side of the Mahakam river for another two weeks, starting Saturday (December 3), an industrial source told Petromindo.Com on Monday.

Barging activity is completely prohibited for next two weeks. Maybe there is activity, just like from Bayan?s mine, which is located in the upper side of Mahakam river but all in contained before the collapsed bridge; all barging activities including public ship transportation are not allowed to pass the collapsed bridge, the source said.

According to the source, mining activities are still on going. Miners that are affected by the accident include PT Gerbang Daya Mandiri, PT Moriss, a coal unit of Hong-Kong based commodity trader Noble Group, PT Mitra Bagun Jaya Sejati and PT Kaltim Bara Abadi (KBA)

A number of major coal suppliers are also affected such as Tanito Harum, Mahakam Sumber Jaya, Santan Batubara, Trubaindo, Kitadin, Jembayan Muarabara, Kimco Armindo, Multi Harapan Utama, Kayan Putra Utama, Teguh Sinar Abadi and Firman Ketaun.

Tanito Harum, Mahakam Sumber Jaya, Santan Batubara are part of Tanito Gorup, Trubaindo, Kitadin is part of PT Indo Tambangraya Megah (ITM), Jembayan is a unit of Singapore-listed firm Sakari Limited, Teguh Sinar Abadi and Firman Ketaun are part of Bayan Group.

The source said many barges that are loaded with coal have been stranded near the collapsed bridge until this Monday. The source said coal volume that can not be delivered to mother vessel is estimated to be more than 250,000 tonnes per day.

The Tenggarong bridge in Kutai Kartanegara part of Mahakam river in East Kalimantan has collapsed on November 26. Searching and evacuation effort are still continuing until now. At least 21 people were killed, 43 injured, and 18 are still reported missing. (denny)