Most eastern Indonesia mining firms damage environments: Official

Most mining companies located in eastern Indonesia have been allegedly involved in the violations of environments, according to the agency for the supervision of environmental impacts for eastern Indonesia (Bapedal Regional III).

"The cases include air pollution, environmental damages due to tailings, erosion," Bambang Sastriajai, the head of Bapedal Regional III, told journalists in a workshop last week.

The companies, according to him, include PT Newmont Minahasa Raya in Minahasa, North Sulawesi, PT Inco in Soroako (South Sulawesi, PT Freeport Indonesia in Mimika, Papua, PT Aneka Tambang, Aneka Tambang in Pomalaa, Southeast Sulawesi amd (Sultra) and PT Semen Tonasa in Pangkep, South Sulawesi.

He said that PT Newmont Minahasa had allegedly caused pollution on the sea water due to its tailing, while PT Inco allegedly caused air pollution. In addition, giant copper and gold mining company Freeport also allegedly damaged the environments on the river where it dumped its tailings, he added.

PT Aneka Tambang?s operation also allegedly caused river pollution due to the unreliable technology it used in processing activities, and PT Semen Tonasa allegedly damaged the environments in its lime-mining site, he said. (*)