Sebuku Coal Mine, Indonesia

The Sebuku coal mine is an open cut truck and shovel coal-mining operation located on the tiny and remote island of Sebuku, in the province of South Kalimantan, Indonesia. It is owned and operated by the Straits Resources Singapore-listed subsidiary Straits Asia Resources.
Sebuku Island is a remote location, 3'30" south of the equator to the south-east of the island of Borneo, approximately 5km east of Laut Island. The island is 35km from north to south and is 10km wide at its widest point.
Before the mine, the population had absolutely no infrastructure serving its 4,000 or so residents save for walking tracks. It now has local access roads, a new portsite on the southern end of the island as well as an airfield. The construction of site infrastructure started in July 1997 with waste stripping for the construction of dams, bunds and the run of mine (ROM) stockpile area and coal mining commencing in December 1997.
Annual production is currently 3mtpa and around 700 people are employed by the operation.
Sebuku Island geology and reserves
The coal seams of Sebuku Island occur within the lower part of the Eocene Tanjung formation. The coal seams are preserved within a number of deposits in the south-west region of Sebuku Island.
The main deposit is preserved within a broad north-south trending syncline that is truncated along the eastern boundary by the major Kanibungan Fault. The flanks of the syncline dip gently at typically less than 10°.
The Tanah Putih deposit lies to the northwest of the main deposit and fills a basin that deepens and thickens to the west. Further seams are developing at depth and thickening to the west above the ultramafic basement.
The strata consist predominantly of weak mudstone and shale with interbedded coal seams. All strata are capable of being mined without the need for blasting.
The coal is of high volatile bituminous rank with an average in-situ ash of 12%, total sulphur of 1.05%, a calorific value of 6,085KCal/kg (air-dried basis) with an average in situ total moisture of 14%. The coal is typically lustrous with occasional bright bands.