Ministry shuts down two illegal gold mines in Maluku

The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has shut down to illegal gold mining areas in Gunung Botak and Gogorea, in Pulau Buru, Maluku Province, Kontan reported on Tuesday.

The paper quoted ministry Spokesman Sujatmiko as saying that aside from being illegal as the mines are not equipped with the required permits, the traditional miners have also been using hazardous mercury and cyanide materials in their operations.

The government in cooperation with the military first shut down the mines in November 2015, evacuating some 13,000 traditional miners in the process. But the miners returned to the areas due to the huge gold potential, the paper said, but did not provide figures. (*)