Local residents ask Arutmin to build alternative road

Residents of the Satui district in South Kalimantan have demanded the management of the province’s largest producer PT Arutmin Indonesia to build an alternative road to help ease traffic problem resulting from the transportation of its coal from its mining area in the district to the nearby stockpile, Banjarmasin Post reported on Thursday.

The local residents’ demand has added to pressures from the locals against the operation of Arutmin, which is controlled by PT Bumi Resources. The Kotabaru regency’s administration earlier threatened to audit the company for conducting improper mining activities such as the company’s lack of commitment to carry out rehabilitation program on its former mining site.

The residents of the Satui district said that Arutmin, which has been operating since 1981 brought more harm rather than benefits to the local people. According to the residents, unlike Arutmin, other companies paid more serious attention to the local problems.

Ahmad Firdaus, an executive of Arutmin, said he understood about the local people’s complaints but he could not decide what to do with their demand. “The local residents’ demand would be reported to the company’s board of directors in Jakarta,” he said. (*)