National park faces new threat

SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: After the forest fires, the 200,000-hectare Kutai National Park is now facing a new threat: a coal mining company is to exploit the lowland rain forest reserve area.

The Environmental Impact Management Agency's provincial head, Awang Farouk Ishak, said PT Tambang Damai Mining has secured a license to exploit some 100,000 hectares of the park.

"We have a real headache now because there have been at least three mining companies allowed to operate in the area," Awang said, reported Antara.

Awang said the companies, PT Indominco Mining and PT Traco Mining, are currently still in the exploration and survey stage.

According to Awang, Indomico's concession area is 14,000 hectares, while 35,000 hectares of Traco's is in the Kutai National Park.

From early this year until early May, as much as 75,000 hectares of the park were ravaged in fires. (aan)