KPC Pond Safe, Still Below Permitted Discharge

Sangatta City, again submerged in widespread flooding since Saturday (3/22/2025). Acting Head of the East Kutai Regency Environmental Service, Dewi Dohi and staff, immediately inspected the PT Kaltim Prima Coal (KPC) mining pond, Sunday (3/23/2025).

The inspection carried out by the DLH also responded to the many issues circulating on social media and the public, that the flood originated from the KPC mine and some even said that the Sangatta flood was the result of the collapse of the embankment in the KPC mining pond.

“Of the seven KPC compliance ponds, we have inspected the three ponds with the largest discharge. From the results of our inspection, in terms of quality there is no increase in turbidity and in terms of the discharge of water that comes out it is still below the threshold according to regulations,” said Dewi, at the KPC Laboratory, in D3, Mine Site, Sangatta.

Dismissing the issue that the cause of the flood came from the collapse of the KPC embankment, Dewi said that this was not true and could not be proven. “We were also asked this question yesterday. There were NGOs, community leaders and government officials. Indeed, so far, when there is a flood, the suspect has always been KPC. But we are ready and ask our friends at KPC to monitor.”

“Although on the first day we did not go directly to the field, our friends at KPC have already given their report. From the results of our monitoring which is equipped with coordinate points, time information and documentation, it is clear that there is no significant increase in discharge coming out of the KPC mining pool outlet. So the issue related to the broken embankment cannot be proven,” said Dewi.

When asked about the source of the current flood, Dewi said that it is not new for the Sangatta area to be hit by a flood disaster. Major floods also often occur, even before the KPC mine. “We already understand that this flood in Sangatta is not the first flood. I am from Sangatta, since I was little in Sangatta and I was once on a ship for a week (because of the flood, ed). That year there was no KPC,” said Dewi.

Furthermore, according to Dewi, in terms of catchment, the Sangatta River has many water sources, especially in the upstream area. One of them is the Benu River, which has a fairly large volume of water.

Regarding this catchment area, General Manager of Health, Safety, Environment and Security (HSES) Kris Pranoto said that the KPC mine only contributes around 6% of the Sangatta River catchment. Which means, 94% of the Sangatta River catchment area is outside the KPC mine.

Of the 6%, Kris continued, a reservoir has been created, one of the functions of which is to control the water discharge that flows into the river. “The KPC mine catchment as a water contributor to the Sangatta River, is only 6% of the entire water contributor area. Even then, there are reservoirs, one of the functions of which is to control the water discharge that flows into the river,” said Kris. (*)