Low water level hampers coal shipment in Kalimantan's Barito river

The sharp decline in the water debit during the current dry season has caused a serious problem to the shipment of coal and other commodities in the Barito river, the most important transportation system in South and Central Kalimantan.

Kompas reported Saturday that at least 22 ships mostly carrying coal had run aground in the Barito river last month due to the low water level which was now only between one and two meters depth, as compared to more than three meters in normal days.

Eddy Mulyono, the assistant manager of the river transportation management in the province, said that the shipment could be only carried out during the rise of the tide which lasted only for less than six hours.

"As the consequences, the shipment is carried out with a priority given on ships carrying foods, passengers and fuel," he said, adding that the drop in the water level had not only caused sharp drop in the traffic but also extended the shipping time to four hours from two hours normally.

Eddy said that the local government would begin a project to deepen the shipment route in the river this month to ease the shipment problem as soon as the Rp 10 billion funds allocated for the project were realized.

The shipment problem in the 900-km river which links many parts of areas in Kalimantan also hit Central Kalimantan province, especially in Murung Raya, North and South Barito regencies. (*)