Indonesia Friends of The Earth Urges Coal Export Halt

Tempo Interactive 22 Mar 10;

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Indonesia Friends of the Earth (Wahana Lingkungan Hidup) have called upon three biggest coal importers to stop buying coal from Indonesia for the next 30 years as a form of responsibility to the environmental damages in Indonesia prompted by coal mining.

The group said in its release on Monday (22/3) written requests had been sent to Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, Chinese Prime Minister Hu Jintao, and Indian Ambassador to Indonesia Biren Nanda.

According to official data from the Energy and Mineral Resources Department 85 percent of domestic coal productions or about 104.38 million tonnes (2009) was exported, while only 34.46 million tonnes were used to meet local demand.

Walhi said Japan was the biggest importer with 26.8 million tonnes, followed by India with 15 million tonnes, and China 13.6 million tonnes.

“Therefore the three countries are required to completely halt coal imports in the next 30 years,” Pius Ginting, Mining Campaign Manager of the group as a form of the countries' responsibility to the environmental damages by coal mining and the global climate change resulting from coal use.

Berry Nahdian Forqan Director of Walhi reminded the government of the shifting trend toward renewable energy in developed countries saying “The government should now begin to anticipate the economic and employment impact (of renewable energy) by developing and provide training for renewable energy use.”

RATNANING ASIH