North Sulawesi will restrict sales of mercury

The provincial administration of North Sulawesi plans to restrict the sales of mercury in the province in a bid to curb the use of the toxic substance in gold mining activities, Manado Pos reported.

Mariete C. Kuntang, the head of the province's trade office, said in Manado on Saturday that the local government was currently preparing a draft law, which would be imposed to curb the sales of the mercury in the province.

She said that the mercury had been widely used in illegal gold mining operations and the use of the toxic substance had caused a heavy pollution in the province's rivers.

"The mercury is one of products which is traded under strict control. But the government faces difficulties to control the substance due to the lack of regulation," she added.

The mercury, which has been widely used in unauthorized gold mining activities in many parts of the province, has badly contaminated the local rivers. According to the local environment office, the level of mercury in most of the rivers had far exceeded the tolerable limits for human lives. (*)