Questions and answers about Central Kalimantan at BHP Billiton AGM
October 24th, 2013
Extract from 'Initial reflections on the 2013 BHP Billiton AGM', by Andy Whitmore, on behalf of the London Mining Network
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"...The second overseas visitor to the AGM was Hendrik Siregar, Coordinator of JATAM (The Indonesian Mining Advocacy Network) who was there to pass on a similar message [to that of Yasmin Romero Epiayum an indigenous representative of Fuerza de Mujeres Wayuu from La Guajira in the north of Colombia]: how local communities in the relatively unspoilt rainforest of Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo) do not want the coal mining to proceed. The company response was that they were not advancing larger mines on their concessions (yet), although they were progressing a smaller mine which would not produce coal this year. Pressed whether they would support a rail project into the heart of Borneo to move mined coal, the company distanced itself from being involved in building such a railway, but then wouldn’t rule out using it (which really seems to be having your cake & eating it)..."
