The Ministry Of Energy And Mineral Resources Investigated PT SDE After The Death Of 3 Foreign Workers From China

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Arifin Tasrif revealed that his party had investigated PT Energy Resources (SDE) located in Kotabaru Regency, South Kalimantan, following the death of three foreign workers (TKA) from China, allegedly due to gas poisoning while working in a mining tunnel.

"We have to investigate first. We send tecling there," he told the media quoted on Saturday, March 25.

Previously, quoted from Antara, the Inspector of Mines at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Hendri said the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources had temporarily suspended the operation of PT Energy Resources (SDE).

When to operate again, he said, waiting for permission from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources regarding the results of the investigation and what recommendations should be implemented by the company.

Hendri said PT SDE had a mining business permit since 2014 but has not yet entered the production operation stage. The activity has only started since 2021 and until this year the infrastructure is still being developed in the form of tunnel excavations located in Magalau Hulu village, West Kelumpang District, Kotabaru.

Previously, based on VOI news, the Kotabaru Police Investigator suspected that three foreign workers from China had died from gas poisoning in the underground mine PT Resources Energi (SDE) in Kelumpang Barat District, Kotabaru, South Kalimantan.

"The cause of death is still waiting for the results of the blood samples to be sent to the forensic laboratory," said Kotabaru Police Chief AKBP Gafur Adytia H Siregar in Kotabaru, Thursday, March 16.

The three foreign workers who died were Xuecen Tiang (41), Lizie Day (45), and Shaziang Yao (51).