Villagers block Kitadin Banpu’s coal mine, production stops

Around 150 villagers from Kertabuana, Tenggarong Seberang subdistrict, Kutai Kartanegara regency in East Kalimantan have blockaded the operation of a coal mine belonging to PT Kitadin Banpu since Monday, the Kompas newspaper reported in its Wednesday edition.

As a result, part of the mining firm's activities had been stopped.

Meanwhile, Laksono Poeranto, a senior official at Banpu (the 100 percent owner of Kitadin) told Petromindo.com that coal production had stopped since Monday, but until now the company is still able to continue shipment of coal from stockpile. Kitadin produces around 8,000 tons of coal per day.

Budi Sudarsono, a representative from Kertabuana village council, said the villagers are angry with the company whose mining activities were expanding toward their houses and that the opeartion had caused flood to their agriculture lands. The distance between the mine and the village is only about 60 meters.

But the local government has told the villagers that the flood was mainly caused by the heavy rainfall.

The blockade began on Monday as villagers set up tents on a street near the mine, SEAM 17. They didn’t allow the company’s heavy equipment to be used in the mining activities. Scores of police were guarding the mining site.

The company is currently in negotiation with the protesting villagers.(*)