Local residents oppose Newmont presence in Kotamobagu

Residents of Molinow village in the Kotamobagu district in Bolmong, North Sulawesi have opposed the presence of PT Newmont Mongondow Mining (NMM) on fears that the United States-based company would only cause a harm to their environment rather then bring benefits, Manado Pos reported on Tuesday.

The residents expressed their opposition in a meeting with the local officials in the village on Monday. In addition, the villagers have also sent a letter to the local administration in the Bolmong regency to express their objection to the mining company's plan to carry out gold exploration in their village.

"Frankly speaking, we have got nothing from Newmont," said R. Sumbala, one of the villager leaders, who opposed the presence of Newmont.

Newmont Mongondow Mining, one of the American gold mining company's Indonesian subsidiaries, has been awarded to explore and produce gold in a 100,000-hectare area stretching in five districts in the Bolmong regency, including the Monsi plantation owned by the Molinow residents.

The local government has arranged a number of meetings to persuade the villagers and tell them that the presence of the mining company, like several existing industries, will bring a positive impact on the local economy. But the villagers still oppose the exploration.

Besides Newmont Mongondow, the other American mining company's subsidiary Newmont Minahasa Raya also has a massive gold concession in North Sulawesi. This company has become a target of the local residents' protests. It has recently been even taken to court by the local government for not paying local tax but the company escaped closure after the central government asked the local court to drop the charge.

The American company's other subsidiary is PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara (NNT), which also operates a large-scale gold mining concession in West Nusatenggara province. This gold mine started its gold and copper production early this year. (*)