Illegal gold mining activities at Meratus?s concession grow

The number of illegal gold miners at the gold concession area owned by PT Meratus Sumber Mas has continued to grow since the mining area was left by the company following the economic crisis late in1997.

Banjarmasin Post reported on Monday that at least 6,000 illegal gold miners from all over Kalimantan carried out traditional mining activities in the company?s concession, which is located about 360 kilometers from Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan.

Kotabaru regent Ahmad Rizali confirmed the activities of the illegal miners. They mostly carried out traditional mining on the company?s concession area, particularly those which overlap with nearby conservation areas.

According to Rizali, PT Meratus Sumer Mas obtained contract of works to carry out mining activities in 1996 but the company suspended the development of the mining project following the worst ever economic crisis which hit the country in late 1997.

He said that the concession area was so promising. "I saw myself that gold nuggets collected by the illegal miners," he added. (*)