Aceh opens forest area for mining operation
Wednesday, April 24 2013 - 03:13 AM WIB
The opening of forest areas will be possible following the revision of the province?s spatial planning which has been changed to accommodate the operation of a gold mine in Mount Miwah, Pidie which is estimated to hold gold reserves of 3. 1 million ounces per troy.
Canadian mining company East Asia Minerals has conducted a mining survey in Mount Miwah. The company took over the Miwah gold area from PT Tambang Emas Miwah in 2008.
The forestry ministry, however, denied that it had approved the revision of the province?s spatial planning (RTRW) in order to convert 1.2 million hectares of forest areas into mining areas.
The secretary general of the forestry ministry, Hadi Daryanto said that the provincial administration of Aceh has so far only asked for the conversion of 119,000 hectares of forest areas. He denied that the forest conversion was made to allow the operation of a mining firm.
Hadi said the gold mining company is allowed to carry out mining activities in the Mount Miwah as long as it uses underground mining method. ?The regulation is clear, an open-pit mining operation in protected forest areas is prohibited,? he said. (*)