The 2015-2019 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) mandates restrictions on coal production and exports, as well as prioritizing coal supply for domestic needs. This national policy has mandated to the provincial level through the establishment of production quotas. However, the production target is oftentimes exceeded as happened in East Kalimantan Province. Therefore, Publish What You Pay (PWYP) Indonesia collaborated with Pokja-30 held focused discussions entitled “Supervision of Coal Production and Export in East Kalimantan Province in Samarinda on (15/8).

As a discussion speaker, Wahyu Widhi Heranata as the Head of the Department of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) of East Kalimantan Province provided the latest information on the situation of coal mining in East Kalimantan. “The total mining licenses (IUP) in East Kalimantan is 1404. 569 of them are in the production operation phase. But not all of those IUPs are active. In our record, only 155 IUPs are actively producing. For this year, East Kalimantan was given a production quota of 61 million tonnes. Until the first semester, the realization has reached 32.7 million tons “, explained Wahyu.

Wahyu continued that the coal production and trade control instruments used are still deemed as administrative in nature, which is seen from the evaluation of the Work Plan and Budget (RKAB) and realization reports. “But we also conducted field evaluations. Now we have 38 mine inspectors. This number is not yet balanced with the number of permits, but this number has excessively increased compared to before, “Wahyu said.

Responding to the exposure of the ESDM Department, Kasharyanto, Head of the Representative Office of the OMBUDSMAN RI East Kalimantan highlighted the planning of East Kalimantan’s coal production which should consider the coal balance and the capacity of the environmental support. Therefore, the determination does not necessarily come from the submission of the company and the level of production can be controlled.

On the other hand, Baihaqi Hazani, Head of Mineral and Coal Division of the ESDM Department in East Kalimantan, said that ideally the determination of coal production would follow the RPJMN as well as the General Plan of National Energy (RUEN). However, it needs to be understood that local governments also need funding sources for development. “It is undeniable that mining has a role to increase East Kalimantan’s revenue. For this reason, in the process of determining the production quota it must also include this matter as a matter of consideration “, explained Baihaqi.

In terms of supervision of coal trade, Hotman Siagian, Head of Sea Transportation Traffic and Port Business at the Harbormaster Office and Samarinda Port Authority (KSOP), explained that now the process of controlling is being carried out for the Terminal for Self-Purpose (TUKS) and Special Terminals (TERSUS) which is a mandate of the Director General of Sea Transportation’s Instructions Number UM. 088/53/12 / DJPL-18. This is intended to tighten port supervision in order to mitigate illegal exports.

Pradarma Rupang, JATAM East Kalimantan spokesperson said that JATAM has been tracking the port around the Mahakam River Basin. There are at least 60 ports from Long Hubung to Samarinda. “If only KSOP opens the data of port license, it will make it easier for the public to participate in monitoring”, explained Rupang.

Leaks in coal transportation became one of the crucial issues discussed in the discussion. However, according to Lorent, representatives of the KSOP of Samarinda, the supervision of sea lanes has considered as tight. As for the material validity of documents related to shiploads, it is not the responsibility of KSOP. Shipload information, including coal volume and content, was obtained from surveyors.