House members asked to monitor mining companies

The House of Representatives (DPR) should improve its monitoring on mining companies especially those which will soon end their mining contracts, according to noted mining observers.

In a hearing with the House?s sub commission for environmental affairs, mining observers Yazid Bustomi and Jamsuri said that many mining companies tended to ignore their rehabilitation programs due to the lack of the government?s control.

Mining companies are required to rehabilitate their mining areas before ending the mining activities but such mandatory rehabilitation program is often ignored.

According to Jamsuri, at least two companies which will soon end their mining contracts. They include gold mine operator PT Newmont Minahasa Raya in North Sulawesi and East Kalimantan-based gold mine operator PT Kelian Equatorial Mining, a subsidiary of Rio Tinto. (*)