Government defends criteria of mining waste

By Bambang Atmaja

Environment Minister Balthasar Kambuaya said that criteria of mining waste stipulated on the draft of governmental regulation was in line with international standard, aiming at preserving the environment.

Minister Balthasar said that the draft has been submitted to the law and human rights ministry.

"On the draft, we follow international standard (to determine mining waste). Such criteria has been applied in many countries aimed at preserving environment," he told Petromindo.com at the State Palace.

He said that his office would hold consultations with several governmental institutions.

Miners earlier staged rally in front of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources office in protest of the draft regulation. The miners called on the ministry to thoroughly discuss the mining waste problem with them first before passing the regulation.

Editing by Adianto P. Simamora