Greenpeace Calls on Banks to Stop Credit For Coal Mining

All banks in Indonesia should stop financing coal mining after the OJK issued the order, Senior campaigner of Greenpeace Indonesia Arif Fiyanto said here on Thursday.

Arif said stoppage of credit for coal mining would be a big blow to coal mining companies, but thousands of people in East Kalimantan would be saved from losing their livelihood.

Thousands of people in East Kalimantan already suffered badly with the extensive damage to the environment by coal mining industry, he said.

"We are like gambling and putting the future of the people at stake while in fact there is no more prospect of business in coal mining," he said.

The decision of the OJK also indicates that investing in coal mining is risky, therefore, all banks should comply with the order, he added.

Arif quoted reliable data as saying the liability of coal mining industry rose 30 percent while income increased only 10 percent and profit had been on the decline since 2008.

Indonesia is the largest coal exporter in the world, and the countrys largest coal producer Bumi Resources has been struggling hard to lift itself from the brink of bankruptcy,he pointed out.

East Kalimantan holds the largest or 28 percent of the countrys total coal reserves.

Coal mining industry has caused extensive damage to the environment including the countrys tropical forests, Arif said.(WDY)