Five mining firms halt exploration in Aceh

Five more mining companies halted their exploration activities in the troubled province of Aceh despite the peace truce recently signed by the Indonesian government and the pro-independent movement group in the province, Tempo Interaktif reported on Tuesday.

The local mining office said that the five companies were PT Kuaradja Tembaga, PT Woyla Aceh Mineral, PT Mineralindo Mas Tapaktuan, PT Mineralindo Mas Aceh and PT Tambang Timah.

Mahdi Adami, a senior official at the mining office, said that the mining firms were forced to halt their exploration due to continued conflicts between the government's security forces and the pro-independent group.

He said that the number of the mining companies, which had stopped their operations in the province, had so far reached 16 firms, including PT Tiwah Tambang Emas in Pidie and PT Tripa Tambang Mas in South Aceh.

In addition to the mining companies, a number of the government's projects such as the large-scale power transmission project were also halted due to continued uncertainty in the security situation in the province.

He said that PT Semen Andalas Indonesia (SA) had also stopped its operation due to lack of fuel supply. "The fuel supply for the cement producer had been cut off due to a thereat from an unidentified group," he said. (*)