Mahakam bridge collapse halts coal barging ops

The bridge that collapsed on Saturday at Kutai Kartanegara part of Mahakam river in East Kalimantan has completely halted coal barging operations of miners which are located on the upper side of the river with estimated volume of around 200,000 tonnes per day.

Petromindo.Com sources said that Kutai Kartanegara regency has ordered stoppage of all barging activities since Saturday.

Sources said that miners that are affected by the collapse of the bridge include Tanito Harum, Mahakam Sumber Jaya, Santan Batubara, Trubaindo, Kitadin, Jembayan Muarabara, Kimco Armindo, Multi Harapan Utama, Kayan Putra Utama, Teguh Sinar Abadi and Firman Ketaun.

Tanito Harum, Mahakam Sumber Jaya, Santan Batubara are part of Tanito Gorup, Trubaindo, Kitadin are part of PT Indo Tambangraya Megah (ITM), Jembayan is a unit of Singapore-listed firm Sakari Limited, Teguh Sinar Abadi and Firman Ketaun are part of Bayan Group.

Sources said that miners which shipments are affected by the accident will offer help to clear the river of the bridge?s steel fragments.

The sources also estimated that the clearing and investigation process will take at least weeks to complete, increasing the possibility of the miners to declare force majeure. (denny)