S. Kalimantan regent criticizes port authority over uncontrollable coal shipment

A South Kalimantan regent has accused the local port authority of not doing enough for curbing the shipment of illegally mined coal from the province to other areas of Indonesia, Banjarmasin Post daily reported on Saturday.

Kotabaru regent Sjahrani Mataja told Banjarmasin Post the provincial port authority should have developed close cooperation with local government agencies to minimize coal sale by illegal miners.

There are currently three major port offices in operation in South Kalimantan, but Sjahrani questions why they had failed to do their work properly.

Sjahrani argued local port officials? slowness had been due to the fact that their activities were mostly decided by the Ministry of Transportation.

The regent threatened to establish rival agencies to supervise ports in Kotabaru. (*)