One dies in FBS coal tunnel collapse

A tunnel at a coal mine belonging to company PT Fajar Bumi Sakti (FBS) in Kutai Kartanegara, East Kalimantan collapsed on Monday, killing one worker and injuring another.

Pantes Hardjo was found dead under the ruins of the tunnel while Toni, who survived the accident, is receiving medical treatment at a local hospital.

FBS is unit of IDX-listed coal mining giant PT Bumi Resources.

?We have closed the tunnel to help us investigate the case,? Kutai Kartanegara Police chief of detectives Adj. Comr. Arif Budiman was saying as quoted by the local media, adding that the company was still be to operate the rest of its mining site.

MS Marpaung, Director of Mines Technical and Environmental Affairs at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources confirmed the accident, but has not disrupted the overall mining operation.

Bumi has agreed to acquire a 77 percent indirect stake in FBS early this year for Rp 2.4 trillion which would be paid in stages within two years. FBS would produce 2.3 million tonnes of coal in 2009, with planning to ramp up production to 7 million in 2012. (godang)