Newmont admits selling used lubricant

The West Nusatenggara-based copper and gold mining company PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara (NNT) has admitted it has sold used lubricant to local firm Sumber Anayar.

But the company?s public relation manager Anton Susanto, however, said that the price of the used lubricant was lower than the expense made for the transportation of the used oil from its mining base in Batu Hijau, Sumbawa.

He denied that the company was involved in the trading of toxic waste as reported by Kompas daily last week.

Anton said that the company had never tried to violate the regulations and laws including those related to the procedure in dealing with toxic waste such as used oil. But he did not explain if the used lubricant could be categorized as toxic waste as many people had charged.(*)