Govt to set up team to decide on Gag island status

The government will set up a special team to decide on whether mining activities can be conducted on the Gag island in Papua province, according to Minister of Forestry M. Prakosa.

Prakosa was quoted by the Neraca daily following a meeting with Minister of Environment Nabiel Makarim at the ministry of mineral resources and energy Saturday.

The government turned Gag Island into a status of protected forest in 1999. According to the law, open pit mining cannot be implemented in protected forest area to preserve the environment.

Ministers were divided on this issue, with Nabiel in particularly opposing calls to allow mining activities on the nickel-rich island. (*)