Sawahlunto, one of PT Bukit Asam Tbk’s mining sites and cities, was designated by the UNESCO to be listed in world cultural heritage under the name Ombilin Coal Mining Heritage of Sawahlunto, on Saturday (6/7) in Baku, Azerbaijan. The hard work of PT Bukit Asam Tbk along with the Government and Director General of Culture finally gave satisfying result for Sawahlunto.
The Ombilin Mining Unit (UPO) in Sawahlunto is the only underground coal mine in Indonesia. More than a century ago, the colonial government opened the coal mining in Ombilin, and then PT Bukit Asam Tbk took over.
Even though there are no coal mining operations anymore in the Ombilin Mining Unit, PT Bukit Asam Tbk still contributed to Sawahlunto in an effort to make it a World Cultural Heritage. The coal mining pit, used to be the location of underground coal mining, is now converted into Educational Pit (Lubang Pendidikan), namely Lubang Tambang Sawahluwung. Some universities often visit this Educational Pit, where people can observe and learn about the underground coal mining process.
PT Bukit Asam Tbk also opened Ombilin Coal Mine Museum located next to
the Ombilin Mining Unit office in Sawahlunto. In this museum, PT Bukit Asam Tbk
exhibited several mining equipment used in Ombilin since hundreds of years ago,
along with a diorama of the coal mining process and information about the company
history.
PT Bukit Asam Tbk's active role in encouraging Sawahlunto to become a
World Cultural Heritage was proved from the transformation of post-mining site
into tourism area, such as Kandi Zoo, Lake, racetrack, sports arena and other
public facilities for the Sawahlunto local people.
Many other assets of PT Bukit Asam Tbk supported Sawahlunto to become UNESCO’s
World Cultural Heritage, such as Ombilin Mining Unit Office, Saringan location,
and Silo functioning as coal storage in its era.
PT Bukit Asam Tbk is very grateful that Sawahlunto become UNESCO’s
World Cultural Heritage named the Ombilin Coal Mining Heritage of Sawahlunto.
For this achievement, PT Bukit Asam Tbk would like to thank the Governor of
West Sumatra, Mayor Sawahlunto, Director General of Culture of the Ministry of Education
and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia, Community Leaders and local people,
and all parties who supported PT Bukit Asam Tbk creating Sawahlunto as tourist
destination city. A celebration in Sawahlunto is to be held for this matter.
PT Bukit Asam Tbk is proud of this achievement and optimistic that not
all post mining sites will become dead cities after the mining operation is
complete. Sawahlunto, for example, PT Bukit Asam Tbk’s post mining site turned
into a tourism area and listed in UNESCO World Cultural Heritage.
