Medco protested for developing oil mining in protected forest

The Nature Conservation Agency has issued a strong protest against oil exploration activities conducted by local oil company PT Medco Energi International in the Bangkirian Nature Reserve in Banggai district, Central Sulawesi.

The agency's chief MA Hudiyono said in Palu on Monday that the oil exploration activities would cause a major damage to forest reserve, one of the country's largest habitat for the rare bird maleo (Macrocephalon).

PT Medco, a production sharing contractor of the state owned oil and gas company Pertamina, is conducting oil exploration activities in the protected bird habitat.

"The Banggai district should show strong determination to ban all activities which could damage the flora and fauna in the Bangkiriang area," he was quoted as saying by AFP.

The forum for Banggai People also feared that the rare bird maleo would soon become extinct, if the oil exploration activities were not stopped.

Several years ago, an oil company conducted similar oil activities in the rare bird habitat but it later stopped its operation due to the objection of the Nature Conservation Agency. (*)