Newmont denies JATAM's accusation
Thursday, January 11 2001 - 04:30 AM WIB
Copper and gold mining company PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara (NNT) in West Nusa Tenggara denied accusations made by JATAM mining network, a local non-governmental organization, that there was a leakage of hazardous materials from NNT's tailing pipeline on January 4, which caused contamination to the surrounding plants.
NNT spokesperson Yonaniko Salim told Petromindo.com that the company's tailings waste material was not considered as hazardous materials.
Yonaniko also said that there was only a minor leakage in the pipeline with a diameter of 1 cm, which was immediately repaired by the company.
"There was no leakage of hazardous waste materials from the NNT operation," Yonaniko said, pointing that there was only a small leak in the connection part of the pipeline which caused a leakage of sea water.
"The small leak was immediately repaired by the company."
Yonaniko added that as part of the company's monitoring program, its environmental department monitored the containment area of the tailings disposal system four times a day
Yonaniko said that the company regretted the statement made by JATAM.
JATAM issued a press release on Wednesday saying that there was a leakage in the NNT tailing pipeline on January 4, and the company failed to response immediately causing a serious contamination to the surrounding plants.
JATAM also said that the leakage was another evidence of the weaknesses in the NNT's tailing disposal system.(Godang S.)