BANGKA -- PT TIMAH Tbk has once again demonstrated its commitment to supporting the economic activities of coastal communities through a dredging program at the Air Kantung River Estuary, Air Kantung Neighborhood, Sungailiat Urban Village, Sungailiat District.
The Air Kantung estuary has long experienced silting, which has obstructed vessel access, especially during low tide. This issue has persisted for years, even though hundreds of fishing vessels rely on the waterway for fishing and other economic activities.
The dredging carried out by PT TIMAH Tbk brings fresh hope for fishermen, as deeper and safer waterways allow them to operate without having to wait for high tide or worry about their boats running aground.
Sudirman, a fisherman commonly known as Sudi, explained that they have repeatedly voiced concerns about the silting of the Air Kantung Estuary, as it has severely disrupted economic activities. At times, their boats couldn’t even dock due to the increasingly shallow conditions.
“This silting problem has been happening since 2011. Boats struggle to enter and exit, and my boat is only 6 GT. We have raised this issue many times. When the water is low, boats cannot enter. There was a time when I had to leave my boat there for two days and hire a speedboat to bring my catch back, costing Rp50,000 per trip. This is burdensome for us fishermen because we must spend more money, not to mention the additional ice needed for the fish,” he said.
For him, PT TIMAH Tbk’s dredging efforts greatly help fishermen, enabling them to enter and exit the estuary with ease to earn a living.
“This dredging by PT TIMAH Tbk really helps us. We are grateful to PT TIMAH Tbk. To help speed up the dredging process, we fishermen also rented heavy equipment, so this is a form of collective effort,” he added.
He hopes the silting problem at the Air Kantung estuary can be resolved so fishermen can go to sea safely and focus on earning a livelihood.
“If this channel gets blocked, our livelihood is blocked too. This is the gateway, the gateway to our livelihood. Hopefully, boats will be able to enter easily, especially during certain months when the water level is very low,” he said.
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Meanwhile, Air Kantung Neighborhood Head Edo Meirdianno stated that the silting and narrowing of the Air Kantung estuary is caused by natural factors, particularly tidal movements and high waves. These natural processes cause water and sediments carried by the waves to accumulate at the estuary.
Edo explained that the silting has severely disrupted the activities of thousands of fishermen and residents who rely on the waterway. Fishermen often cannot enter or exit at certain times, resulting in economic losses such as spoiled fish, damaged boats, and decreased income.
He added that not only fishermen use the Air Kantung Estuary, but also workers in offshore sectors. The silting therefore significantly affects the community’s economic activities.
“There are actually many users of the estuary workers and others. So I believe residents of Air Kantung, Parit Pekir, Nelayan Dua, Nelayan Satu, and anyone who uses this waterway are greatly affected by the narrowing of the estuary. Economic activities are heavily disrupted. Some fishermen arrive at night to dock but cannot enter,” he said.
“Many residents have had to switch to alternate access points like Pangkal Balam, which is easier to traverse, affecting the local economy, including income from boat parking fees,” he continued.
He expressed appreciation to PT TIMAH Tbk for responding to residents’ requests by dredging the estuary using heavy machinery as a short-term solution to the silting issue.
“I believe PT TIMAH Tbk has done its best for the community. They moved quickly, responded to the community’s request, even though dredging with a PC unit is not the ultimate solution. But currently, no other party has taken serious action to fix the estuary. So what PT TIMAH Tbk has done is truly helpful, at least allowing residents to enter and exit the estuary properly and smoothly, even if it’s not the ideal long-term solution,” he concluded. (*)
