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)