Minister says Newmont tailing waste treatment system illegal

Minister of Environment Sonny Keraf said on Monday that the tailing waste treatment facility of gold mining company PT Newmont Minahasa Raya in North Sulawesi was illegal because it didn't have the necessary license.

Sonny was quoted by the Bisnis Indonesia daily as saying that the company had already completed the required environmental impact assessment for its operation but it didn't include the tailing waste treatment system.

"We have check to the local Bapedalda and it turns out that Newmont tailing has no license," he said. Bapedalda is the local office of the government-sponsored environmental watchdog.

Sonny said that his office would issue the license if it's proven that Newmont's tailing didn't damage the under seawater environment.

He said that his office would make the necessary test.

Newmont put its waste product called tailing under the seawater. But the waste product is being processed first so that it would not pollute the environment. (*)