Poor infrastructure hampers coal-mining activities in Riau
Wednesday, October 10 2001 - 03:08 AM WIB
The lack of infrastructure has become a major obstacle for the development of coalmines in Riau province, which is estimated to have about 2.37 million tons of coal reserves, Bisnis Indonesia reported on Wednesday.
Akman Adipoetra, the deputy chairman of the province mining office, said in Pekanbaru on Tuesday that the essential infrastructure included a railway transportation system and a coal terminal.
He said without the two main infrastructures it would be difficult to develop the coalmines in the province, which is also the country?s largest oil producer.
According to him, a number of investors have interested in developing coalmines in the province. But most of them are still conducting a feasibility study.
About 2.37 million tons of coal reserves have been detected in Kuantan Singingi, Kampar, Indra Giri Hulu regencies, covering an area of about 10,500 hectares.(*)