DLHK: No Mining Company Admits Coal Spilled Into The West Aceh Sea

Residents collect coal that pollutes coastal areas in Peunaga Pasi Village, Meureubo, West Aceh, Aceh, Tuesday (30/5/2023). (ANTARA/Teuku Dedi Iskandar)

Head of the West Aceh Regency Environment and Hygiene Agency (DLHK) Bukhari said, until now, not a single mining company or mining material user has been responsible for the coal spill in the West Aceh Sea. "As of today, no company has claimed that coal spilled into their West Aceh seas, all ‘ body throw away ’,”" Bukhari told ANTARA in Meulaboh, Antara, Thursday, June 8. Although the issue has been discussed with the DPRA Special Committee Team, Aceh DLHK, West Aceh DLHK, as well as representatives of coal mining companies in West Aceh and Nagan Raya, as well as PLTU 1-2 Nagan Raya some time ago during a Hearing Meeting at the Aceh DPRA. Until now, the parties who have been carrying out coal mining activities, exporters and users of coal fuel in West Aceh and Nagan Raya still do not want to admit that the coal that spilled into the sea belonged to them. Bukhari said, based on the results of the examination of coal samples obtained from laboratory testing on coal samples submitted by the West Aceh DLHK some time ago, he said, the calorie levels of the coal samples that spilled into the local sea had a calorie content of 3,950 kkal/kg GAR. If referring to calories of 3,950 kcal/kg GAR, said Bukhari, the coal is similar to the production of PT Bukit Asam which is currently used as fuel for Steam Power Plants (PLTU) 1-2 Nagan Raya. However, during the meeting, said Bukhari, representatives of PLTU 1-2 Nagan Raya admitted that similar calories were also owned by coal produced by PT Bara Energi Lestari (BEL) Nagan Raya. After being questioned by the West Aceh DLHK that so far PT BEL Nagan Raya has never transported or carried coal hoaxes by sea, and only by land, the management of the power plant company did not provide further response. Bukhari said the coal samples that spilled into the West Aceh Sea were also not similar to the coal levels produced by the PT Mifa Brothers operating in West Aceh Regency, because the coal calorie levels produced by the company had a level of 3,400 kkal/kg GAR. However, for the coal that had been spilled into the West Aceh Sea and stranded on the coast and collected by the community, the coal was then purchased by the PT Mifa Brothers at a price per sack of Rp. 25 thousand per 50 kilograms. The purchase of coal that spilled over in the West Aceh Sea, said Bukhari, was a form of commitment from the company to protect the environment from coal pollution. Although it does not recognize the coal spilled in the West Aceh Sea, coal mining companies in West Aceh such as PT Mifa Brothers and PLTU 1-2 Nagan Raya as users of coal fossil fuels admit that they are still responsible for cleaning coal if coal spills into the sea in their operational area.

“So, the West Aceh Regency Government will not turn a blind eye to the issue of the coal spill into the sea. We will continue to trace this issue thoroughly, and there must be parties responsible for the coal case spilled into the sea, ” said Bukhari.