North Sulawesi "will be closed to gold mining activities"
Monday, November 6 2000 - 04:00 AM WIB
The development of gold mining will be no longer a priority for North Sulawesi in future, and if it is needed large-scale gold mining operations will be barred at all in order to reduce their environmental risks, N. Sulawesi Governor AJ Sondakh said, Telegraph daily reported last week.
Speaking at a discussion held by the branch of Antara news agency, Sondakh said that if the new policy is approved, gold mine concessions, which have been issued, would be ended in 2003.
According to the governor, the operations of the existing gold mining companies have not only damaged environment but have also caused a social problem.
Sondakh said that the provincial administration would also take a firmer action against the existing mining companies. "We will take a firm action, if the study (now being conducted) shows that their operations have damaged the environment. (*)