Newmont Nusa Tenggara's waste disposal permit extended
Thursday, May 12 2005 - 03:07 AM WIB
State Minister of Environment Rachmat Witoelar has finally agreed to extend the permit of PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara's submarine tailing placement (STP)at its Batu Hijau gold and copper mine in West Nusa Tenggara, Korean Tempo reported on Thursday.
"The decision on the extension of the waste disposal permit was signed by Minister Witoelar on May 9," a source told the daily. The mining company's spokesman however refused to comment on the decision.
Non-government organizations (NGOs) had asked the minister not to extend the permit given the bad track record made by the company' affiliate Newmont Minahasa Raya in North Sulawesi.
As widely reported by the press, Newmont Minahasa Raya's submarine tailing place in the Buyat bay had allegedly caused a serious environmental problem. The office of the state minister of environment recently filed a lawsuit against the company for polluting the sea around its STP location. (*)