Court rules government to revoke MMP iron ore permit

The State Administrative Court has ruled in favor of protesting villagers instructing the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources to revoke the special IUP mining business permit of iron ore mining firm PT Mikgro Mineral Perdana (MMP) on Bangka Island in North Sulawesi, Kompas reported Thursday.

Villagers have protested construction activities by MMP to open up iron ore mine in the small island as it would cause damages to the local environment particularly the mangrove ecosystem.

Environmental campaigner of Jatam, Ki Bagus Hadi Kusumo, expected the court?s ruling to be implemented, and demanded the company to make rehabilitation work on the island following construction of infrastructure facilities.

MMP has obtained mining permit for a concession covering 2,000 hectares, or more than half of the size of the Bangka Island. (*)