Govt demands Newmont make ecological risks study

State Minister of Environment Sonny Keraf said on Monday the government had demanded gold mining company PT Newmont Minahasa Raya in North Sulawesi conduct a study on its tailing disposal system.

Sonny said, in a written statement presented at the hearing with the House of Representatives' Commission VIII for mines and energy the demand was made a joint evaluation team formed by his office, Ministry of Mines and Energy and Ministry of Fishery and Marine Exploration.

The so-called "ecological risks assessment study" was necessary to ascertain whether the tailing discharged by the company into the Buyat Gulf's waters had met the ecological standards.

Sonny said the study should involve State Ministry of Environment/Environmental Impact Supervisory Central Body (Bapedal), Ministry of Mines and Energy, North Sulawesi governor, Minahasa and Bolaang-Mongondow regents, head of North Sulawesi provincial mines and energy office, non-governmental organizations, the province's Sam Ratulangi University, local community leaders.

"The study should be completed in six months," Sonny said.

Non-governmental organizations have often criticized Newmont for discharging its tailing into Buyat's waters, claiming the tailing was hazardous and had contaminated the gulf's ecosystem and caused skin diseases on the villagers who use the water.

Newmont maintained the tailing had met the ecological standards.

Sonny also said in the statement that his office had told Newmont that despite the fact that the company had received an environmental license (amdal) from the government to discharge its tailing into the sea, the ministry was of the opinion that the tailing disposal system was illegal under the Indonesian law. (*)