Loading activities at Muara Satui anchorage hampered by Police raids

By Edgar Subroto

Coal loading activity in Muara Satui anchorage, South Kalimantan was hampered as the police conducted raid on small coal miners allegedly operating without proper permits.

Currently, there are about 20 vessels waiting for coal cargo in Muara Satui anchorage, the source told Petromindo.com on Friday. ?Some of the vessels have even been anchored at Muara Satui for a month?

Among the vessels are those that would load coal from PT Arutmin Indonesia and PT Borneo Indobara ? both are holders of Coal Contract of Works (CCoWs), which were not impacted from the raid, and coal for an Indian trader Oorja.

An industrial source told Petromindo.com that South Kalimantan police regularly conducted raids on small-scale coal miners in the area, which hampered loading activity as traders usually purchased coal in smaller parts from different miners to meet their larger quantity commitment to buyers.

The source also said that coal loading activity in Muara Satui otherwise was normal despite the current decrease of coal prices, with between 20 and 30 units of vessels entered Muara Satui per month.

Editing by Adianto P. Simamora