South Kalimantan to curb operation of illegal coal ports

The South Kalimantan authority has threatened to take strict measures against the operation of sea ports which have been used for the shipment of coal produced by illegal miners from the province, Kompas daily reported Thursday.

The head of the province's transportation office, Helmi Indra Sangun, said in Banjarmasin Wednesday that his office would give harsh punishments to illegal coal port operators.

"They can continue their operation only after they obtain a proper license," he was quoted as saying. He acknowledged that without the help of the directorate general of sea transportation, which is directly in charge of the country's ports, the local authority would not fully succeed to deal with illegal port operators.

Helmi said that the number of illegal coal ports had quite rapidly increased since 1999 following the growing activities of illegal coal mining in South Kalimantan. Helmi said that his office could not do much to curb the operation of the illegal ports due to intervention from certain people from the local sea transportation office.

Meanwhile, some from the coal mining industry are pessimistic about the plan of curbing illegal coal transportation activities in South Kalimantan.

Sony Pangestu, external affairs manager of South Kalimantan-based coalminer PT Arutmin Indonesia, said that so many government and security officials had visited illegal coal mining sites and coal ports over the past months, but they had not taken any measures against those involved in the projects. (*)