Antam seeking permits to open mining projects in protected forests

State owned mining company PT Aneka Tambang (Antam) is seeking permits from the ministry of forestry to lease part of protected forests in Buli, North Maluku and in Bahubulu, Southeast Sulawesi for the company's mining projects, Investor Daily reported on Monday.

Antam's president director Deddy Aditya said in Jakarta over the weekend that the company was seeking the leasing permits from the ministry to open mining activities on 39,040 hectares of the protected forests in North Maluku and another 14,570 hectares in Southeast Sulawesi.

The Buli and Bahabulu areas were part of the 13 mining projects suspended following the issuance of new forestry law last year, which bans open-pit mining activities in protected forests. The government later allowed the resumption of the mining projects on the condition that the investors should first get a leasing permit to develop part of the protected forests into mining areas.

Antam, one of the country's most diversified mining company, has interest in at least six of the 13 companies that have been allowed to resume their mining activities in the protected forests. They include PT Nusa Halmahera Minerals, PT Sorikmas Mining, PT Gag Nickel, PT Weda Bay Nickel and PT Pelsart Tambang Kencana. (*)