PT Arutmin operates normally despite order to stop its mining activities
Thursday, November 2 2006 - 01:27 AM WIB
Arutmin?s external relations manager Sonny Pangestu told Petromindo.Com Thursday that the company continues to operate as usual while striving to seek a land usage permit from the Ministry of Forestry.
Sonny Pangestu made the remark when asked to comment on local administration's order to temporarily stop Arutmin's operation.
Tanah Bumbu?s head of forestry and environmental agency Bambang A. Yuwono asked Arutmin in a letter sent earlier to stop its mining activities until the company gets land usage permit from the Ministry of Forestry.
Arutmin deplored on Thursday the delay from the Ministry of Forestry in extending the permit to use land in the Batulicin?s forestry area.
?We have already reported this matter to the director general of minerals, coal and geothermal Simon F. Sembiring. He asked Arutmin to continue its operations and promised that he would write a letter to the forestry authorities to issue the extension letter to use the land in the forestry area,? Sonny said.
According to Sonny, Arutmin in fact stopped its activities for several days during the idul-fitri holidays. But after the holidays ended, the company resumed its activities.
Arutmin produced 16.76 million tons of coal last year.
Arutmin is a subsidiary of JSX-listed energy firm PT.Bumi Resources. (godang)