PT IKC buys illegal coal

Cement producer PT Indo Kodeco Coment (IKC) in Tarjun, South Kelumpang subdistrict, has allegedly bought illegal coals from illegal miners, according to sources at Kotabaru Police.

The Kotabaru Police acknowledged that in one of its operations, they found tens of trucks carrying coals but not equipped with necessary letters from the Kotabaru administration go in and out of the company's sites.

This indicates that the company is engaged in illegal activities of buying illegal coals.

According to sources, the coals have been transported from illegal coal mining sites in the village of Mentewe in Batulicin subdistrict. The coal from this village is first stockpiled at an illegal stockpiling site at KM 3.5, from where the coal is transported to PT IKC.

In the operation, the police confiscated around 5,000 metric tons of coal stockpiled in the company's site. When asked about the origin of the coal, the company mentioned that it bought the coal from PT BAS.

Based on the police's investigation, PT BAS is mining coal in Mentewe village without any license. Even its stockpile at KM 3.5 has no license also.

Kotabaru Police chief Superintendent Drs H Didie Suryono SH confirmed that the police had confiscated the coal.

However, Kotabaru administration then issued a recommendation allowing the once illegal activities into legal activities. IKC uses the coal as energy source for its cement production activities. (*)