The Fate of Sri Banting Dredge, Dengkil

It is shocking to know that in the year 2020, the court has ordered the owner of this very unfortunate rusted dredge to move it elsewhere or dismantle it forever by December as the land on which Sri Banting historically being operated for many years has been handed over to the property developer.

Red circle showing an area that grants a lease from Selangor state for Sri Banting operations. Source: Page 129, Tin Mining in Malaysia, 1800-2000: The Osborne & Chappel Story

The Sri Banting dredge is a tin dredge originally owned by Timah Langat Berhad. Construction of Sri Banting started in 1974, completed two years later and commenced operations since 1977.  Now it was the last remaining dredge in Selangor, and one of the two remaining in Malaysia after Tanjung Tualang 5 ( TT5 Dredge) in the state of Perak

At the early of 2019, the Selangor Museum visited Sri Banting and expressed interest in acquiring the dredge, but the purchase negotiations is still uncertain. What's terrifying is, the possibility.. Yes, It is possible that maybe it have been cancelled due to a very expensive price offered by OCIE (around RM8 million after discount.)

Despite the high price, this piece of engineering has it's own historical value, Sri Banting isn't just piece of shit. We shouldn't lose it! I really hope that the State Government (MB and State Secretary) agreed to acquire Sri Banting not only because it is the last in Selangor, but it is more modern and had more advantages than TT5, considering it was built in the 1970s, where among the most mature peak time in tin ore extraction technology.

What! every dredges all the same la you said...Aiyo!  In general you may think they function as a machine that helps a lot and simplifies the mining process, but allow me to explain about this dredge, a facts that you might not know...

Hey, this particular dredge uses circular jigs hokey!! 

It has been engineered and introduced in dredging works in later time when a miner needs extremely fine concentrate grades and mineral recovery. The process combines conventional gravity separation and centrifugal force allowing for size recovery down to 10 microns! This process is more effective and fast compare to previous method and Sri Banting is the last dredge in the country currently, that had a Circular Jigs.

You may found a circular jigs anywhere in active mining areas in the country, but the ones that originally mounted on the monstrous floating machine is still there, the last one that you still have chances to see with your eyes in real!

Sluices boxes is part of a many jigs as found in TT5. It is an example of early method used in first generation dredges introduced in Malaya to extract tin ore. Credit: Liz Price

Sluices box in operations. Credit: Ipoh World

The development of the circular jigs for tin in the 1960's has led to the development of one of the most significant advances in modern high capacity gravity concentration equipment. Credit: RMS-ROSS CORPORATION

More modern and fast way! The bottom area of the circular jig as found in Bemban dredge had multiple propulsing columns that thrust water upward which suspend particles in the water becausethey have been exposed to gravitational energy. 

Still think not worthy? haiya up to you lah...

If Sri Banting could be maintained, we will have two examples of dredges. One from the generation of 1938 and another from the last generation in Malaysia (60s - 80s). So our grandchildren will be able to learn about this mining technology with two different era in our beloved country in comparisons.

TT5 Dredge. Source: Wikipedia

MMC may have been very generous in donating the the TT5 dredge to the Perak State Government, lucky enough after somebody (Malaysian Chinese) wrote a letter when he heard MMC planned to dispose the dredge in 1997. 

But that should not be used as an excuse, I mean to spend a huge amount of government money (hehehe) for the sake of Sri Banting; to save this very valuable relic in the state of Selangor with it's own unique history in tin mining industry.

Significantly, the dredges play a major roles in tin mining industry for its era at the State of Perak, its aims the best in the history as Perak is the largest producer of tin ores on that time.

In January 1913, Batu Gajah area is where the first dredge was introduced in Malaya. And TT5 deserved to be preserves as the last of its kind in Perak or precisely at Tanjung Tualang, which is also at Batu Gajah, Perak. The place where it started.

And the affirm standings of TT5 there now is nothing but to prove a history, a proof to the younger generation nowadays that the treasures from within the beneath of earth at the state have been extensively taken, and help contributes a lot to the development of the state, plus to provides them an answer if their wonder why are so many-many lakes and ponds along the Kinta River bank.

I got info at least two last modern dredges (built at early 80s) were dismantled in the state of Perak around 2001-2007. It is the smaller Sri Mambang in Mambang Di Awan and the other one is much larger Sri Dermawan, owned by Timah Dermawan Sdn Bhd around Kampar area. The Sri Mambang were carefully dismantled as she was sent to the undisclosed country in Africa.  

But Sri Banting story in Selangor is also not 'kaleng-kaleng', is one the three last dredges in Malaysia that struggling to maintain it's operations, defending her position until her last breathe. Sri Banting is the second last.

For info, the last dredge in operation in Malaysia is in 2002 and it was the Dredge no 3 of Berjuntai Tin Dredging Bhd at Batang Berjuntai (Now Bestari Jaya). This was confirms by locals and by the annual reports (page 70) published by MMC.

Sri Banting while still in operation, a view from it's overburden chute.
Maybe in late 1990s or early 2000s.
Credit: “A gold mine in tin” Monday, 13 August 2007 06:01am ©The Sun by Joyce Au-Yong

Sri Banting in 2016, I took this picture on Facebook, but forgot pulak to take notes about the owner, sorry.

Until later, she was left alone there, by the side of the highway. The place where she was tethered, the place where she last poured her devotion. The gloom of the tin mining industry hits again. This time causing her fate to be defenseless as her service is no longer needed.

So sad..

Adding to my sadness now is when recently one video (click to watch) was posted on YouTube, showing a group of young men who have entered into the dredge for exploration and we can see inside, Sri Banting's condition is getting worse, rusted, much even worse it rotted due to long neglect without care.

The dredge's pontoons has also been filled with rainwater. Sooner or later it will continue to be unbalanced and tilted.

During its heydays, Sri Banting dredge like any other tin dredgers in Malaysia operated for 24 hours non-stop in three shifts.15 workers are on-board at one time for each shift.

To be more specific, Timah Langat Berhad that owns and operates Sri Banting is a company established by PKNS in 1972. Later the company became a subsidiary to Selangor State Goverment's investment arm; Kumpulan Perangsang Selangor Berhad (KPS) in 1975, commencing its high profit since 1978 and becoming the most profitable subsidiary under KPS in the early 80s.

In 1983, KPS was required to comply with the instructions from Deputy Prime Minister Tun Musa Hitam to sells Timah Langat Berhad with two other KPS subsidiaries to Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB).

In early 90s, due to it's deposit in areas of operations, Sri Banting is one of few tin dredges that survives from being ceased despite tension over a hit of fall in tin prices. According to August 14, 1990 New Straits Times report, the operation cost of Sri Banting in that time can reach up to RM150.000 per month.

New Straits Times report on August 14, 1990 for Sri Banting   

Later Delima Industries Sdn Bhd was appointed as a maintenance operator for Sri Banting and the company was entrusted to take over all the mining activities from Timah Langat Berhad.

In October 1991, Timah Langat Berhad has entered into a transfer agreement to sell its mining assets and debts to its wholly-owned subsidiary Delima Industries Sdn Bhd for RM18.5 million.

To further diversified it's businesses and to explore more ventures, Timah Langat Holdings Sdn Bhd was incorporated in 1992.  

In 1996, Timah Langat Berhad acquired MNI Sdn Bhd, an insurance company. As part of restructuring plan, PNB merged Timah Langat Berhad with MNI, and changed it's name to MNI Holdings Berhad.

In 2002, MNI Holdings Berhad disposed its non-insurance business to focus its resources on core insurance operations under wholly-owned unit Timah Langat Holdings Sdn Bhd. At least seven subsidiaries have been sold including Delima Industries Sdn Bhd.

So the last owner of Sri Banting is Delima Industries, but the fate of the company is unknown to me until now. And Sri Banting is now up for urgent sale by OCIE, you can visit the site by clicking here.

Sri Banting has been put into an idle status several times starting in the mid 90's after runs uneconomically when the tin price instability strikes.

In 1999, Sri Banting was reactivated. The last known year Sri Banting was in operation is in late year of 2000 just before the mining lease expired.

Selangor state government in early 2000s under Khir Toyo administration only allow sand mining and refuses to renew or grants any new tin mining leases in the state due to ecosystem concerns, lack of land for future developments and the high cost that the state had to spend in land reclamation of a deep ex-mining ponds. And again the tin prices drops in 2002.

If no buyer can be found, it would probably be sold as scrap and that will be the end of Selangor’s tin mining heritage which is a very  tragic!

Sri Banting in 2008. Still looks good. Credit: Riki Lee

Another view of Sri Banting in 2008.Credit Riki Lee

In 2008. Credit:Riki Lee

Sri Banting in 2008. Credit:Riki Lee

Sri Banting maybe around 2007. credit: choopaulo

Again, the Sri Banting maybe in around 2007. credit: choopaulo

Sri Banting lagi, this time little bit afar, maybe in around 2007. credit: choopaulo

Sri Banting view in a distance, pic taken under dilapidated hut, maybe this hut once served as a Tin Shed.  Pic taken maybe in around 2007. credit: choopaulo

At around 2007-2008, Sri Banting still strictly guarded. credit: choopaulo

Look closely at this pic, someone is staring at the cameraman from the Sri Banting's Controlroom. 2008. Pic Credit:Riki Lee

Gated in 2008. Dogs also participated in guarding this dredge in the past. Credit:Riki Lee

Satellite view of Sri Banting taken from Google Earth, 16.02.2004

Combine images from Satellite showing the movements of Sri Banting
taken from Google Earth, in 2004, 2007, 2009 and 2015.

If you wish to get more information about this dredge, visit the nearby Desa Timah Langat and meet the old folks there, a former employees of Timah Langat Berhad. They getting old, not many of them is still alive. But Sri Banting Dredge for them and their families is like a library, stored a thousand stories, memories that they will never be able to forget, sentimental values ​​that can not be bought with ringgit money.

Jusuh


You can read some story and history of former employee at:
http://merahkuning.com/v3/2016/08/09/24-penduduk-desa-timah-langat-terima-notis-5a/