Gov?t to sue delinquent mining firm

State Minister of Environment Nabiel Makarim said that the government would sue PT. Ampalit Mas Perdana, a Central Kalimantan based gold mining firm, which had ceased operation for failing to meet its post mining closure obligations.

?We are currently preparing to file lawsuit,? Nabiel told reporters after a parliamentary hearing in Jakarta Monday.

Ampalit Mas is a joint venture between the bankrupt tycoon Samsul Nursalim and Australian mining company Pelsart Resources NL.

The company ceased operations several years ago and, since then, thousand of illegal miners had rampaging its former mining concessions, where the company was supposed to undertake reclamation works.

Nabiel admitted that illegal mining activities were partly responsible for heavy environmental destruction in the company?s ex-mining area. However, he said that Ampalit was also responsible by not fulfilling its responsibilities.(godang)