KEM accused of polluting E. Kalimantan rivers
Thursday, May 16 2002 - 03:29 AM WIB
The West Kutai administration in East Kalimantan has been urged to examine the water at a waste dumping dam owned by local gold miner PT Kelian Equatorial Mining (KEM), East Kalimantan-based Kaltim Post daily reported on Thursday.
A local foundation concerned with environment preservation (YLBBPJ) said on Wednesday the dam?s water contained hazardous elements which came from KEM?s gold ore processing plant in Kelian District in West Kutai. Water from the dam flowed to three rivers namely Kelian, Mahakam and Nyuatan rivers, foundation chairman Rudi Ranaq told Kaltim Post.
So many villagers residing in West Kutai consumed the river water, Rudi said.
KEM, owned by Anglo-Australia?s mining giant Rio Tinto, will end its mining operation in West Kutai in 2004 due to gold reserve depletion.
The firm currently produces 13-14 tons of gold annually. (*)