Uncontrolled mining threatens environment

Uncontrolled mining threatens environment

Rusman, The Jakarta Post, Samarinda

After illegal logging, coal mining is now the biggest danger to
the environment of East Kalimantan. Many coal mines -- especially
those run by local cooperatives -- have abandoned prudent
principles in running their mines, leading to environmental
destruction in the respective areas.

In Sangasanga, Kutai Kartanegara regency, for instance, a coal
mine managed by such a cooperative has simply been abandoned
without any attempt at restoration, and leaving the surrounding
environment in a critical state. A local resident, Nurdin, 36,
expressed concern that irresponsible actions have damaged the
environment. "The quality of ground water was good before and
could be used for people's daily needs. But not now. It has been
polluted. It's smelly and isn't clear any more," he said.

Legal cases involving the coal mining industry in East
Kalimantan are becoming more prevalent. Police in Kutai
Kartanegara regency are probing 26 cases involving the issuance
of forged mining permits. So far, four people have been named as
suspects for forging mining permits issued by the local regency
government.

Data from the East Kalimantan Statistics Agency reveals that
the production capacity of coal in 2004 was estimated at 50
million tons annually.

The figure has declined compared to the previous year's total
of 55 million tons. In 2003, non-oil and gas natural resources
contributed as much as 21 percent to the Gross Regional Product
of East Kalimantan, or Rp 88 trillion (US$8.8 billion) annually.

Meanwhile, uncontrolled coal mines run by cooperatives have
caused the public to become concerned, with the managing director
of the East Kalimantan Chamber of Commerce, Ruben Tumade,
deploring the unrestrained issuance of mining permits by local
officials without going through a selection process or
environmental supervision. "Just imagine, the environment that
has been destroyed by illegal logging will get even worse with
rampant illegal mining," said Ruben.

According to Ruben, mining permits should be issued by the
provincial administration because local (regental) officials
often invoke regional autonomy as an excuse to issue as many
permits as possible, without concern for the environmental
impacts. "The government must be stern in resolving the problem
before the number of illegal coal mines swells further, because
investors will not have faith in the government and this will
create a bad image for the regional economy," he said.

Head of the East Kalimantan Mining and Mineral Resources
Office, Syaiful Bahri, acknowledged that illegal coal mining was
widespread at the moment and that most of the illegal miners only
used simple tools. Most of the illegal mines are found in Kutai
Kartanegara, West Kutai and East Kutai regencies, and Samarinda
municipality.

He said that the problem was within the authority of the
regental and municipal administrations and thus the provincial
administration could not take action against environmental
violations.