MEMR secures 50,000 tonnes of unclaimed coal in E. Kalimantan anti-illegal mining drive

By Zaki Mubarok

The ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has secured about 50,000 metric tons of unclaimed coal found along the Mahakam River in East Kalimantan, as authorities step up enforcement against illegal mining, an official said on Tuesday.

The coal was discovered at six locations, including coal jetties and mining areas in Loa Kulu and Sebulu districts of Kutai Kartanegara, during a two-day operation on Jan. 14–15, according to the ministry.

The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry’s law enforcement directorate said the stockpiles, located along the Sungai Mahakam, are suspected to have originated from illegal mining activities.

Read also: Energy ministry seizes 70,000 tonnes of illegal coal in East Kalimantan

“These coal stockpiles constitute state assets that are vulnerable to loss, so immediate on-site security measures were taken,” Jeffri Huwae, director general of energy law enforcement, said in a statement.

Authorities have sealed off the coal with official barriers and warning signs declaring it state property. The ministry will next trace the origin of the coal and assess its volume and quality, a process that will involve independent surveyors or other authorized institutions, Jeffri said.

Once the assessment is completed, the coal will be auctioned, with proceeds recorded as non-tax state revenue from the energy and mineral resources sector, he added.

The operation involved coordination with the regional military command, East Kalimantan police, and the ministry’s mineral and coal directorate, and was carried out without incident.

Editing by Alexander Ginting