Marginal coal miners remain inactive amid police raid

By Edgar Subroto

Already hard hit by the current plunge in global coal prices, marginal miners particularly those operating without the necessary permits have been forced to stop their operations following a two-week raid by the local police.

?Until today, all mines (marginal miners) are still inactive, except those with official permit,? a source told Petromindo.com Tuesday.

The South Kalimantan police regularly conduct raids against rampant illegal mining operations in the province. The current raid against illegal mining, which has been instructed by the National Police Headquarters in Jakarta and is expected to last until September 28, has been carried out across all coal-producing areas in the province including Jorong, Kintap, Asam-Asam, Satui, Sungai Danau, and Batu Licin, the source said.

As reported earlier, the raids against illegal mining activity had hampered coal loading activities such as in Muara Satui anchorage. Some coal traders get coal from marginal miners including illegal ones to fulfill commitment for buyers at home and overseas.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak