Jember Metals not yet receive gold mining license from local govt

Gold mining firm PT Jember Metals has not yet received the necessary license from the Jember regency administration in East Java, the Neraca daily reported.

The paper quoted Jember regent Syamsulhadi Siswoyo as saying that the administration would be extra careful in deciding whether to issue the license because the mining site of Jember Metals was located within the Meru Betiri National Park.

He said that the government would not put revenue as the top priority at the expense of the environment.

According to Neraca, the gold mining operation could potentially destroy the 50,000 ha national park and 100,000 ha plantation of the people.(*)