Freeport?s imported plants contain viruses

At least 19 species of plants imported by Freeport Indonesia from Australia for the company?s reforestation project in the mining waste or tailing dumping area have been found to have been contaminated by certain viruses that could endanger the ecosystem, Kompas reported on Friday.

Azmal AZ, the head of the plants quarantine office in Timika, Papua, said on Thursday that the 19 species of the contaminated plants were shipped from Australia to Timika on March 1 by MV Java Sea Joy ship.

"The plants are now being kept at one of Freeport?s warehouse," he said, adding that the virus was found after the plants were tested in a Jakarta laboratory. The viruses that were found in the plant could endanger ecosystem particularly horticulture

Freeport began to import certain species of plants from Australian three years ago to be grown in the company?s tailing area. But no studies have been made to find out if the Australian plants grown in the area have caused ecosystem problem. (*)