Govt to help mining companies with technology

The government will help 13 mining companies obtain environmentally-sound technology and assist them in managing their tailing dumps to ensure that the companies would not cause damage on the environment, Koran Tempo reported on Thursday.

?We shall keep their operation from causing damage (on the environment),? Minister of Environment Rachmat Witoelar was quoted by the paper as saying on Wednesday.

The 13 companies are those which have been allowed to operate in protected forests. They are among others Sorik Mas Mining, Karimun Granite, Indominco Mandiri, Weda Bay Nickel, Aneka Tambang, International Nickel Indonesia, Freeport Indonesia.

The companies were banned to conduct open-pit mining in protected forests under the 1999 Forestry Law, but the government later allowed them to operate there in view of the fact they had signed contracts prior to the issuance of the law.

Meanwhile, executive director of non-governmental organization Walhi Chalid Muhammad said he doubted the government?s effort would be effective, citing that the tailing dumps in Europe, which had been closed a century ago, are still putting out heavy metal elements.

Thus, Walhi and local communities would continue fight against the operation of the companies in protected forests. (*)