MMI suspends underground mining construction

Coal mining firm PT Merge Mining Industry (MMI) has suspended construction work at its underground mine in Sungai Pinang, Banjar Regency, South Kalimantan, following eviction of dozens of its foreign workers.

MMI Public Relations Manager Hasbi Shaleh was quoted by Antara saying Monday that the workers had been sent back to China after their work permit expired.

He said that there were only three remaining workers given an extra two-week work permit to maintain machinery and equipment at the underground mine.

He explained that the underground mine was still at the construction stage, and was scheduled to start production in June of this year.

He did not provide further details about the project. (*)