Laut Island Mines Closed

Kompas/Jumarto Yulianus

A coal barge passes through the waters of Muara Sungai Barito in South Kalimantan on Thursday (10/9/2015). Coal remains South Kalimantan’s main export commodity.

BANJARMASIN, KOMPAS — The South Kalimantan provincial government has closed all coal mining operations on Laut Island, Kotabaru regency, following public pressure and opposition. Three licensed mine operators that had carried out pre-exploitation activities have been asked to stop their activities.

Acting head of the South Kalimantan Energy and Mineral Resources Office, Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, said in Banjarmasin on Thursday (26/10) that mining operations on Laut Island were officially closed on Wednesday (25/10) after his office deployed a field inspection team.