North Barito keeps 14 potential mineral resources
Thursday, June 29 2000 - 04:00 AM WIB
North Barito district in Central Kalimantan, whose area is flanked by two maintain ranges, Muller/Schaner and Mertatus ranges, is rich of mineral resources, and is projected to keep at least 14 mineral reserves spreading in 11 subdistricts.
A development assistant to the North Barito regent, Jamaluddin, said in Muara Teweh on Wednesday that a number of investors, both local and foreign, had been exploring minerals in the region, including gold, coal, oil and diamond.
He said at least 15 companies holding contracts of works were exploring for gold in the district, including PT Indo Muro Kencana that had been exploring for gold since 1994.
In addition, 16 investors had also signed agreements with the government to mine coal in the region. Meanwhile, and PT Sungai Mendawai Mas was currently exploring diamond potential in its concession areas of 53,230 hectares. And state oil and gas firm Pertamina and Union Oil were also exploring for oil in the region.
Other minerals that had not been explored by private investors include copper, iron ore, kaolin, phosphate, manganese and mica.
"I can't say how many reserves of those minerals in this area, as there has been no businessmen filing their proposal to survey those minerals," he told Astaga.
He noted that data about those minerals were based on researches by the forestry office and reports from the people who had surveyed the area.
Meanwhile, the police arrested six Dayak Siang figures - namely Otong, Unto, Naper, Dewan, Mumpung and Ubang -- for their deliberate efforts to hinder the operation of PT Indo Muro Kencana.
North Barito Police chief Lt. COl. Sugeng S. Kartodinoto said because of their actions, the company's mining operation in eight locations of its concessions had been stopped since September 1999.
Sugeng said the police took actions against the six Dayak figures because they, along with 500 other Dayak people, had threatened to the continuity of the company's operation in North Barito.
Meanwhile, Dayak Siang leaders told Kompas that Dayak people did not oppose Indo Muoro Kencana's operation. But they said Dayak people just demanded their traditional rights over their lands be respected, and therefore, the company cannot just drive Dayak people from their lands without compensation. (*)