Silimpopon – A Borneo coal mine (book review)

Title : Silimpopon – A Borneo coal mine.
Author ; Ross Ibbotson
Published ; Opus Publications, Kota Kinabalu. 2007
Size; Hard cover, 192+ pages, large format.

Comment.
Ross is a timber engineer working in far NE Sabah (Malaysian – North Borneo) has researched material on this abandoned coal mine over many years, and produced this book (with many pictures) as a historic record.
British interests eventually gained influence and control over much of north Borneo and coal exploration was carried out in the 1890’s where a 6ft “Queen” coal seam was the target of setting up a London company and funds provided to start production from underground around 1910. Initial opening of the mine, access haul way & port was done under difficult pioneering manner, and with imported Chinese labour. After various managers the mine eventually made a profit over 4 years in the 1920’s, but declined and eventually close around 1931. The story is typical of many such ventures, being difficulties with labour, mix of good & poor management & poor decisions by the London board of directors, and mix of good & poor consultants and poor coal marketing – all being too far away between London decision makers and mine site.
A nice read and well researched.