Councilor to summon head of local officials over Galuh Cempaka licence
Tuesday, February 27 2001 - 04:30 AM WIB
The Commission D of the South Kalimantan Councilor plans to summon head of the provincial office of the ministry of mineral resources and energy to be questioned over the mining license of PT Galuh Cempaka, the local Banjarmasin Post daily reported on Tuesday.
Galuh Cempaka is a diamond-mining prospect owned by Ashton Mining (80 percent), which is listed in Australian Stock Exchange and state miner PT Aneka Tambang (20 percent).
The paper quoted commission member Ahmad Supawi as saying that the Councilor had been informed that Galuh had only obtained an exploration license for diamond mining in Banjarbaru area, but nevertheless the company had already started exploitation activity.
Ahmad, however, said that the commission had not yet decided on the fix schedule when the meeting with the head of the office of the ministry of mineral resources and energy would take place. "But I can assure it will be soon."
He added that if Galuh did not have the necessary exploitation license, its current diamond mining activity is considered as illegal. (*)