PT ABK's Kalimantan coal mining site could be closed down

The acting regent of Kutai Kartanegara regency in East Kalimantan, Hadi Susanto, has threatened to close down the operation of coal mining company PT Anugrah Bara Kaltim (ABK) if the company is proven to have caused a serious pollution on nearby Loa Janan river, local newspaper Kaltim Pos reported on Wednesday.

"PT ABK's coal mine operation could be closed down if the company did not heed the government's warning," Hadi Susanto said during a meeting with executives of the local water company PDAM and PT ABK at his office on Tuesday.

The meeting was held to hear PDAM's complaint that PT ABK's coal mine operation had caused a serious pollution on the Loa Janan river. PDAM said during heavy rains, the Loa Janan river was heavily polluted by the coal waste from PT ABK's coal mine operation.

PDAM, which uses raw water from the river for its clean water production, had often been forced to stop operation because the water at the river had been heavily polluted. "Last year alone, we had to halt operation for at least 15 times because the pollution," an executive of PT ABK said.

During the meeting, an executive of PT ABK denied the charge, saying the local government had to form an independent team to find out if the company's coal mine operation had really caused a serious pollution in the river. (*)