Minister says Freeport can be shut down if proven to damage environment

Minister of Environment Sonny Keraf said on Thursday that he would not hesitate to shut down the operation of gold mining firm PT Freeport Indonesia if the company is proven to have severely damage the local environment.

Sonny said that according to the existing law, a company's mining license could be revoked if it's proven to have damage the environment.

He was responding to a controversy surrounding the publication of the environment audit result of Freeport in various mass media without first verifying the result with the Ministry of Environment or Environment Impact Assessment Agency (Bapedal). Freeport-appointed auditor praises the company's environmental management system in the audit report.

Sonny said that Bapedal and his office would meet with Freeport today (Friday) over the issue.

He said that if the government verification was not the same with what had been published by Freeport, the company would have to display a new advertisement in the mass media stating the correction.

Sonny added that if there was signs of serious environmental damage or claim from the society, his office would conduct a new audit which may lead to the closure of the giant gold and mining operation in Irian Jaya province.(*)