South Kalimantan illegal coal goes to Southeast Asian countries

The illegal coal from South Kalimantan province is being marketed to three Southeast Asian countries including Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines, according to a recent research conducted by the environmental research department of the local University of Lambung Mangkurat.

The research said that almost all coal-mining areas in South Kalimantan have been filled by illegal miners. The areas included the mining areas of mining firm PT Adaro Indonesia and PT Bental Coal Mining in the Sungai Hulu Utara district, PT Antang Gunung Meratus in the Hulu Sungai Selatan district, the former mining site of PT Chung Hua OMD in Tapin and Banjar districts, PT Jurong Barutama District in Tanah Laut district, and PT Arutmin Indonesia in Kotabaru district.

It said that illegal mining provided positive contribution to the local economy, but it also created negative environmental impact. (R. Amoros)