DLHK: Coal Spill In West Aceh Sea Is The Company's Responsibility

Environmental activists show a coal spill on the coast that residents have collected into sacks, in Peunaga Rayeuk Village area, Meureubo, West Aceh, Wednesday (25/10/2023). (ANTARA/Teuku Dedi Iskandar)

MEULABOH - The Department of Environment and Hygiene (DLHK) of West Aceh Regency ensures that the coal material spill along the coast in Peunaga Rayek Village, Meurebo District, which has now been collected by residents in sacks is the responsibility of the coal mining company or coal users.

"Coal spills that spilled into the sea and stranded on the coast are the company's responsibility to carry out cleaning," said Head of DLHK West Aceh Regency, Bukhari, quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, October 25.

He explained that so far there have been no legal sanctions against cases of coal spills that have continued to occur in the southern coastal area of Aceh, because the local government no longer has the authority in terms of mining permit management.

According to him, all issues related to mining, minerals and coal have now become the full authority of the Aceh Government, in this case the Aceh Energy and Mineral Resources Service.

Bukhari explained, based on the results of a joint agreement between the Aceh Government, DPRA, West Aceh Regency Government and companies and other related parties a few months ago in Banda Aceh, the capital city of Aceh Province stated that one of the points agreed in the meeting in the event of a coal spill on the coast must be cleaned by coal mining companies or coal fuel users.

In addition, he said, supervision of loading and unloading activities at sea is also carried out joint supervision with the relevant authorities, including if there is a coal spill, then cleaning must be carried out by the company.

Bujuri said that so far there have been no legal sanctions or legal remedies on the issue of the spill of coal on the coast of West Aceh, because this issue is no longer under the authority of the West Aceh Regency Government.

"Maybe if there is another agreement on legal sanctions, then we will follow up," said Bukhari.

Bukhari admitted that so far there have been frequent coal spills on the coast in the Meureubo District, West Aceh Regency, which were then collected by residents in sacks and paid their collection wages by the company.

"The collection or cleaning activities carried out, he said, are a form of responsibility for the company in carrying out cleaning if there is coal material spilled on the coast," said Bukhari.