Indonesian tin miners turns to ocean reserves as land resources diminishes
Indonesia is known to be the world’s biggest exporter of tin which is being used in everything like food packaging, electronics and green technologies. However, deposits in the mining base of Bangka-Belitung have now been exploited on land which left the part of the islands off the southeast coast of Sumatra island look like a lunar landscape where vast craters are visible along with highly acidic turquoise lakes. The tin miners are now turning towards ocean reserves.
According to a 51-year-old tin miner, Hendra, their income on land has been dwindling and that there are no more reserves, but there are far more reserves in the ocean. They are frequently grouped together around tin seams which can be found under the ocean. Since the pontoons they are using are loud, the miners are using hand gestures in order to communicate.
Similar to many other Indonesians, the 51-year-old Hendra, uses one name and operates six pontoons. Each pontoon is operated by three to four workers with over 20-meter long pipes used to suck up sand from the seabed. The pumped mixture of water and sand is being ran across beds of plastic mat which catches the black sand with tin ore.
Hendra is one of the artisanal miners who partner with PT Timah in exploiting the state miner’s concessions. According to Hendra, an amount of about 70,000 to 80,000 rupiah ($4.90 to $5.60) is being paid to the miners per kg of tin sand and each pontoon usually carries about 50 kg per day.