Kicking up dust

Muara Maung village sits in Merapi Barat District, Lahat Regency, at the heart of one of South Sumatra's coal-producing areas.

In 2023, Lahat recorded 171 active mining permits. Mining activities, together with the 220-megawatt coal-fired power plant in the regency, have long been promoted as important pillars of the local economy and a key source of electricity for southern Sumatra.

Yet for communities living alongside these industrial operations, the benefits of development are accompanied by growing environmental pressures.

Melia Santri, a 24-year-old resident of Muara Maung, has spent years struggling with recurring allergies that she attributes to prolonged exposure to coal dust from nearby mining operations.

"It feels as though something is stuck inside my nose, like there is something trying to come out, but nothing does. It is extremely disruptive to my daily activities," she said.

Seeking relief, Melia visited the local community health center, hoping to obtain a referral to see a specialist at a hospital. Instead, she said, her request was rejected, leaving her to manage the condition on her own.

Frustrated by the worsening environmental impacts of coal mining around Muara Maung, Sumhayana and other villagers visited PT Muara Alam Sejahtera, or PT MAS, one of three coal mining companies operating near the village, on July 16. The residents urged the company to take responsibility and help address the recurring floods that have plagued the community for years.