Controversial coal tested by lab with expired licence View(s):By Namini WijedasaSouth African coal sold to Lanka Coal Company (Pvt) Ltd (LCC) by problematic coal supplier Trident Chemphar was repeatedly tested in Indonesia by a laboratory whose accreditation to inspect coal expired on December 29 last year, Sri Lanka’s National Audit Office (NAO) said in a special report this week. As of March 31 this year, the NAO had not received evidence that the licence granted by Indonesia’s National Accreditation Committee (KAN) to PT Mitra SK Analisa Testama Samarinda had been renewed. Under the procurement agreement, Trident—which won the 1.5mn MT tender for the 2025-2026 coal season—as supplier, was responsible for nominating the “load port testing laboratory”. This is why coal samples from Richards Bay Coal Terminal in South Africa were sent by Trident to Indonesia for testing. LCC instructs Trident to immediately submit valid and renewed attestation documents for PT Mitra SK Indonesia.

Source: Sunday Times April 11, 2026 08:10 UTC