Shipment of illegal coal foiled

Shipment of illegal coal foiled

SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: Staff at East Kalimantan mining and
energy office have, within the past week, confiscated two
containers, each with 40 tons of coal, at Samarinda seaport.

The coal, due to be taken to Surabaya, was confiscated as
there was no proper documentation for it.

"The coal was illegally mined in several areas of the
province," head of the office Masrihadi said on Friday.

The areas included Sempaja, Loe Janan Ilir and Sungai Pinang
Dalam subdistricts within the province. The illegal miners worked
in groups of 10 to 20.

The office had previously urged miners to stop their illegal
mining activity because it could endanger them. The activity,
carried out haphazardly, could also endanger others, as it could
cause landslides.

Masrihadi said that his office would urge the miners to form a
cooperative, so that it would make it easier to oversee their
activities and train them in safer mining techniques. -- JP