Idea to use international environment impact analysis on CoWs criticized

Two House of Representatives members criticized an idea for the adoption of an international environment impact analysis on foreign investment companies operating in Indonesia as inappropriate, the Antara news agency reported on Thursday.

Nur Hasan of the National Awakening Party faction and Bambang W. Suprapto of the Golkar party faction made the remark on Wednesday after Pramono Anung of the House Commission VIII reiterated that the international analysis contituted a compulsory parameter mining companies had to abide by.

"If the government continues using the national standard as its reference, there will be no foreign investment mining companies, including PT Freeport, which violate the environment regulations," said Pramono of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle.

"However, in any working contract, foreign investment companies have to abide by existing regulations adopted by the Indonesian government. The idea of adopting the international analysis underestimates the local system," Nur Hasan said on Wednesday.

He said the idea was inappropriate because it had no basis. If Pramono wants to propose it, he should consult directly with the state minister for environment, he said.

"We will ask the minister for environment about his opinion on this. We think it is inappropriate, except our existing regulations are really out of date," Nur Hasan said.

Bambang said that the idea to adopt the international analysis needs deliberations because it will expand the scope of the stance on the part of the government.

"If our regulations on environment impact analysis are no longer suitable, they have to be reviewed. The working contracts however have to continue," he said. (*)