Licensing procedure delays coal port construction in Kalimantan

The construction of a coal port in South Kalimantan has been delayed due to the long-line bureaucratic procedures imposed by the transportation ministry to get the permit for the construction, Kompas reported on Saturday.

Andi Gunawan, the president director of PT Dua Sahabat Jaya, said that the company's plan to build a coal port in South Kalimantan had been delayed due to difficulty to obtain a permit from the transportation ministry.

"We have provided all the requirements but we are still unable to get the permit. We don't know why," he was quoted as saying.

The operation of many coal mining companies in the province have not been supported by sufficient port facilities, he said. There should be more ports to support the continued increase in the province's coal production.

"If the government does not ease the licensing procedures, the number of illegal coal ports will continue to increase," he said, adding that at present hundreds of coal ports operated illegally due to the difficulty to get the permit. (*)