Villagers in Lahat blockade coal mine operation
Thursday, April 8 2010 - 02:22 AM WIB
Hundreds of villagers in Lahat regency, South Sumatra are blocking the access road to PT Bumi Merapi Energi?s coal mine on Wednesday as the company ignored their demands to repair the road used for the transportation of coal from the mine, Kompas reported Thursday.
The blockade of the road which began on Tuesday was still continuing until Wednesday. It has also halted the transportation of coal from the mine into the nearby port.
There are three companies, that is PT Bumi Merapi Energi, PT Bara Alam Utama and PT Muara Alam Sejahtera that have obtained permits from the Lahat regency administration to open coal mines near the villagers? residential areas in Padang Baru and Lubuk Betung.
Meanwhile, Sanu SW, a mine coordinator of Bumi Merapi, said that the company had spent up to Rp 350 million to repair the road. ?However, the condition of the road is worsening due to rains,? he added. (*)