204 Illegal Coal Tongkang Escaped In Mahakam, KSOP: Mining Supervision Is Not Our Authority

Air photos of a number of barges carrying coal crossing the Mahakam River, Samarinda, East Kalimantan, Sunday (13/7/2025). Between East Kalimantan/M Risyal Hidayat (

SAMARINDA - Head of the Class I Port Authority and Port Authority (KSOP) Samarinda, Mursidi, denied allegations of weak supervision that caused the escape of 204 illegal coal barges on the Mahakam River, East Kalimantan.

According to him, KSOP only has limited authority in shipping and safety administration aspects, not supervision of mining activities.

"KSOP is only tasked with issuing Sailing Approval Letters (SPB) and Motion Processing Approval (SPOG) through digital systems. We cannot hold back the ship if all formal terms are met," said Mursidi in Samarinda, Antara, Thursday, November 6.

He emphasized that his party did not have the authority to check the legality or origin of coal transported by ships.

"Whether the document is genuine or fake, we don't have the capacity to judge. The only thing that can confirm is the publisher agency," he explained.

Responding to the report of the Indonesian Anti-Corruption Society (MAKI) to the Attorney General's Office regarding the alleged violation, Mursidi said that his party had provided clarification to the East Kalimantan High Prosecutor's Office.

"They've seen our system firsthand. Mining supervision is not our domain," he said.

Mursidi menambahkan, seluruh tongkang yang beroperasi berada di Terminal Untuk Kepentingan Sendiri (TUKS) milik perusahaan, sehingga tidak berada di bawah pengelolaan langsung KSOP.

- https://voi.id/berita/530100/dukung-pembangunan-nasional-uin-jakarta-guyur-beasiswa-rp2-85-miliar-untuk-dosen-dan-tendik

- https://voi.id/berita/529136/anggota-dpr-desak-pemerintah-awasi-ketat-pembangunan-pesantren-usai-asrama-putri-di-situbondo-ambruk

- https://voi.id/berita/530925/bmkg-peringatkan-potensi-hujan-lebat-disertai-petir-di-sejumlah-wilayah-indonesia

- https://voi.id/berita/530889/pemerintah-siapkan-rp351-83-miliar-untuk-tanggap-darurat-bencana-2025

[/see_also]

Mursidi added that all barges operating are in the company's Terminal for Personal Interest (TUKS), so they are not under the direct management of KSOP.