The freezing of mining product delivery will be done if the central government does not respond to our requests for additional subsidized fuel quota.
Banjarmasin, S Kalimantan (ANTARA News) - South Kalimantan Governor Rudy Ariffin H announced that the four provinces of Kalimantan intend to stop sending mining products, including coal, out of the region.

"The freezing of mining product delivery will be done if the central government does not respond to our requests for additional subsidized fuel quota," he stated, following the plenary session of the South Kalimantan Parliament here on Monday.

"If I am not mistaken about the four Kalimantan governors` meeting in Jakarta a few days ago, the time limit for the central government`s response was set by the end of May 2012," he remarked, adding that the additional quota was set at 60 percent of the 2011 quota.

According to the government`s decree on the provision of subsidized fuel, Kalimantan received 7 percent of the national quota in 2011, but this quota was expected to be reduced in 2012.

For example, in 2011, South Kalimantan was allotted more than 40,000 kilolitres (kl) of subsidized fuel per month, but in 2012, this figure decreased to 36,000--38,000 kl.

Rudy noted that the reduction in fuel quota is quite peculiar because it contradicts the development of the region`s fuel users or customers.

In fact, motor vehicle users in the South Kalimantan region have increased by up to 15.5 percent per year.

"Therefore, it is natural for South Kalimantan and other Kalimantan provinces to request for an additional subsidized fuel quota," Rudy remarked.

Meanwhile, the South Kalimantan Parliament`s chairman Nasib Alamsyah has declared his support for the four Kalimantan governors` decision to stop sending out mining products from their respective provinces if they do not receive an additional subsidized fuel quota.

"I think that all the Kalimantan province leaders and legislators also agree with the four governors` decision on fuel problems," said Nasib.

"Because, if we do not stand firm, the central government may not respond to regional demands, particularly from the four provinces in Kalimantan," he added.

(A050/A014)

Editor: Ella Syafputri
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