Lampung legislators criticize Bukit Asam for not paying local tax

Members of Lampung province's legislative council have criticized the South Sumatera-based coal producer PT Bukit Asam for its refusal to pay local tax, Sriwijaya Pos reported on Tuesday,

Martubi Makkum, a member of the council's Commission C, said in Bandar Lampung on Monday that he deeply regretted the refusal of the coal mine operator's to pay the tax imposed by the local administration

He said that the company should not only take the benefit from its terminal facilities in the province but should also be willing to share the province's financial burden.

The coal mining company's president RA Sunardi was recently angered by the Lampung provincial administration to charge Rp 3,000 for every ton of goods transported through the province and another Rp 10,000 for every tons of goods piled in the provincial area.

But the Lampung provincial administration later said it understood the coal mining company's objection and then offered the company a 50 percent discount for the payment of the fee for its coal stockpiles at the Tarahan coal terminal in the province.

The company, which operates a mining area in Tanjung Enim, South Sumatera but ship its coal through Tarakan coal terminal in Lampung, has to pay a numerous tax and fees to the two provincial administrations. (*)