North Barito proposes central govt to revoke idle mining permits

North Barito administration in Central Kalimantan province has expressed concern over the idle coal contract of works (PKP2B) granted to contractors, proposing the central government revoke the permits, Banjarmasin Post reported Tuesday.

North Barito?s head for the mining, industry and trade office Asran said over the weekend that of the six holders of the coal contract of works, only two had conducted mining activities. ?Most of them have yet to start activities despite pocketing the permit many years ago,? he said.

Data at the North Barito?s mining, industry and trade office shows that six holders of a coal contract of work are PT Suprabari Mapanindo Mineral, PT Batubara Duaribu Abadi, PT Bharinto Ekatama, PT Asmin Bara Bronang, PT Multi Tambang Jaya Utama and PT Koalindo Tuhup.

Only PT Bharinto Ekatama and PT Suprabari Mapanindo Mineral are active in conducting mining activities, according to the data.

?Only two companies are engaged with (mining) activities. The remainders provide reports they prepared on the table but they have yet to start on site activities,? Asran said.

Asran said that the administration had often been informed about the contractors? (mining) activities, with several of them informing of having conducted a feasibility study. ?However, local community who monitored them informed that they (the contractors) have never conducted any activities there,? he said, adding that the administration had also issued a reprimand letter signed by the Inspector General of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. (*)