Antam calls on Duta Inti and Sriwijaya Raya to stop mining activities

State gold and nickel producer PT Aneka Tambang Tbk (Antam) urged PT Duta Inti Perkasa Mineral (DIPM) and PT Sriwijaya Raya to stop its mining operations in Southeast Sulawesi due to irregularities of their mining permits.

Todung Mulya Lubis, attorney of Antam, claimed that the mining authority (KP) issued by Konawe Utara Regency Head No. 153, 2011, to DIPM was against the applicable law.

?The stipulation (SK) No. 153/2011 as basis for the mining authority (KP) which has been out of date was overlapped with the mining area of Aneka Tambang. Moreover, the mining authority (KP) is no longer recognized under the existing law,? said Todung Mulya Lubis.

He added even if the KP was upgraded to mining business permit (IUP), he questioned why the stipulation was still issued the Konawe Utara Regency Head.

He also said that the IUP issued to PT Sriwijaya Raya by Konawe Utara Regency Head (SK No. 154/2011) was also against the applicable law.

?The mining permit has resulted in an overlapping of mining area of Antam, which has been secured far earlier by Antam and has been updated with the stipulation of Konawe Utara Regency Head No. 158, 2010, which will expire in 2030,? Todung said.

Todung said the illegal mining operations undertaken by the two companies have put Antam and the State in disadvantage position. The mining permits issued to the two companies were overlapped with mining areas of Antam. (godang)