without a coal delivery, we're going nowhere, page-9

The matter of low river levels only affects Mahamak as it is located beyond the point on the river where year round barging access is possible, which the comment about unusually low river levels perhaps doesn't convey.
River levels would not be a factor for GPK. That concession has not bought much joy for KRL or the previous operator, I suspect that there may be issues with the local partners who have retained a portion of the ownership.
I think the point being missed by many is that here are thousands of similar coal concessions in the area along the Mahakam.
Finding coal is not a big deal, it is close to the surface throughout the whole area.
Neither is finding a company who has the expertise to mine and barge it out, there are plenty of small ultra low cost truck and shovel operations that drive the trucks straight onto the barges to load them, a lot of infrastructure is not needed to get started.
However finding someone who has the local knowledge, contacts and skills to market the coal is not that easy.
In reality the best road to success would be to look at the whole project as a coal marketing exercise, because if the coal can be marketed successfully, the rest will fall into place.
I think having the mindset of being a coal miner rather than a coal marketer has handicapped at least some of the players in the past who have failed to make the most of the abundance of opportunities there in Indonesia.