Borneo Lumbung Mine in Central Kalimantan - photo gallery

Coal mining in Indonesia is having a huge impact on local and indigenous populations. Alex Scrivener and Andrew Taylor from WDM recently visited Central Kalimantan on the island of Borneo and this is what they saw at the Borneo Lumbung Mine near Maruwei:

Things have been a struggle for local people since the mining companies moved in. A woman called Erly Aisha told Alex and Andrew how things have changed. "Fifteen years ago before the mining companies, we could use the river water to cook, shower and wash. Now it is polluted and we can only use it for having a shower and for the toilet." 

 

BHP Billiton, a UK financed mining company, is planning extensive mining projects in the Murung Raya district of Central Kalimantan. HSBC and Standard Chartered Bank are both linked to financing BHP Billiton. WDM is campaigning for these banks and other parts of the financial sector to be forced to disclose the carbon footprint of their investments.