Investors eye coal in Kutai

Investors eye coal in Kutai

JAKARTA (JP): Several investors are asking the government to
remove the status of nature preserve from Kutai National Park in
Bontang, East Kalimantan, to allow them to explore its huge coal
deposits, an official said on Thursday.

Herman Syafii, an official at Kutai National Park's
preservation office, said the 198,629 hectare park was believed
to contain enough high quality coal deposits "for 150 years of
exploitation".

He said the investors, who he did not name, were lobbying the
government to remove the park's nature preserve status, but the
government had not yet made a decision on the appeal.

"If the government gives its approval, we will be very sad
because the park is not only owned by Indonesians, but also by
the entire world," Herman was quoted by Antara as saying during a
seminar on community development inside and outside Kutai
National Park. The seminar was held at Mulawarman University in
Samarinda. (jsk)