SAWAHLUNTO COAL MINING CLOSED WITHOUT COMPENSATION FOR MINERS

Padang, W Sumatra, June 19 (ANTARA) - West Sumatra Governor Gamawan Fauzi said the government does not pay any compensation for the miners following the decision to put an end to the mining operations in 13 coal mining concessions in Sawahlunto.

"There will be no compensation, at least for the time being, hoping the miners abide by the decision for their own safety," Gamawan said when inspecting the site of the explosion in the underground coal mine in Ngalau Cigak, Sawahlunto, on Thursday.

The coal mine exploded Tuesday (June 16) at about 10 a.m local time, killing 31 miners while 14 others sustained injuries. In the wake of the fatal accident, Sawahlunto Mayor Amran Nur ordered the closure of the coal mine concession in the town, to give a change for the relevant authorities for restructuring efforts and an examination of the methane contents in the mine's tunnels.
The closure is effective since the explosion occurred in the mine Tuesday for a week.

With regard to the fate of the 1,000 miners, Gamawan told them to be patient until the examination has been completed, and the closure decision lifted.

With regard to the dead miners, the West Sumatra administration will give a compensation of Rp 5 million to each of the berieved families, and Rp 2 million for the families of each of the injured miners, and their hospital expenses paid by the Sawahlunto administration.