Coal Exploitation Must Be Controlled

By Ulul Maskuriah

Banjarmasin, (Antaranews, South Kalimantan) - Assistant Director of Bank Indonesia's Kalimantan region Agus Hartanto reveals exploitation of coal mining in the area is incredible, so there needs to be regulations to control the production and maximize the revenue of the sector.

Agus here on Thursday said, the total national coal resources is 161.34 billion tons with  reserves reach 28.17 billion tons. 47 per cent of its potential is in Kalimantan while the remaining 53 percent in Sumatra.

"Ironically, despite the potential for Kalimantan mining is smaller, but much larger than the exploitation of Sumatra," he said.

 

Based on the data, said Agus, currently Kalimantan coal production reaches 92 percent of the total national production, while the remaining 8 per cent of Sumatra. Even more worrying, of all the national coal production, 98 percent are exported, and the rest is in the national interest.

Current national export coal being the largest compared to other countries. Even compared to Australia, which was formerly known as the world's largest coal exporter.

"Starting in 2011, Indonesia has been leading a coal exporting country in terms of volume to the world market, which reached 350 million tons / year, beating Australia by 300 million tonnes / year," he said. In fact, he added, the national coal reserve just 5 percent of the potential that exists in the world.

Conditions as is the case today, need to get the attention of all policy holders, not to run out of natural resources such as massively exploited without thinking of future generations.  "Especially for the Kalimantan territories, natural resources there should really be maximized for the income and welfare of the community," he said.

While the Secretary of the Government of South Kalimantan Province, Arsyadi, strongly agreed when the exploitation of coal or natural resources should be controlled. The problem, he said, policy makers regarding the management of natural resources, including coal exploitation, is the central and district/municipality governments.