Samarinda (ANTARA Kaltim) -Â PT Kaltim Prima Coal (KPC), a big coal producer in East Kalimantan has been given a poor rating in environmental management.
KPC was given a red mark for alleged failure in preventing damage to the environment in its operational area, head of the East Kalimantan Environmental Rating Agency Riza Indra Riadi said.
The company, which is owned by the Bakrie Group, was charged with the responsibility over the collapse of a dike causing serious pollution to the Bendili river in its mining area, Riza said.
The river was badly polluted with total suspended solid (TSS) reaching 4,000 much worse than the standard quality, Riza said in the ceremony presenting the environmental award of Kalpataru in Lamin Etam on Friday night.
In addition, the local people had complained about land clearing around the mining concession of KPC, he said.
"A confirmed report has been received from non governmental organizations (LSM) about the local people complaining about the land dispute not yet settled until now," he added.
The rating of PT KPC has dropped sharply over the past two years from golden rating to Green last year and to a red mark this year, he said.
He said KPC is not the only one but there are 26 other companies given the red mark.
There were also 23 other companies receiving the black mark including two , PT Cahaya Energi Mandiri (CEM) and PT Energi Cahaya Industritama (ECI), which abandoned mining tunnel without reclamation.
This year, 115 coal companies,44 industrial and service companies, 51 oil palm plantation companies and 27 forestry companies took part in the Evaluation of Company Performance Rating Program.
Riza said the East Kalimantan regional administration has served written reprimands to 369 companies including mining, oil palm plantation and service companies in the province.
"The provincial administration has full commitment to preserving the environment. We would not hesitate to slap penalty on companies causing damage to the environment," he said.
The role of the mass media and LSM, therefore, is important in watching the performance of companies in the environment management, he added.
KPC is a subsidiary of Bumi Resources, the country`s largest thermal coal producer,which is controlled by the Bakrie Group. (*)
