Press Release: Jatam?s accusation against PT NNT is baseless
Tuesday, April 5 2005 - 10:09 AM WIB
?There is no supporting information that these individual?s represent or have a mandate from the people of West Sumbawa District. On the contrary, the people of Sumbawa Barat are very supportive of PT NNT operations and also strongly support the extension of PT NNT?s sub-sea tailings placement permit. They know as we do that the tailings placement system is safe and that PTNNT?s commitment to the community is very strong,? said Malik Salim, Senior Manager External Relations PT NNT.
The operation of sub-sea tailings placement of PT NNT was permitted by the Environment Ministry and has been operating in accordance with the permit and relevant regulations and as predicted in the AMDAL. PT NNT?s tailings are not categorized as hazardous waste or B3. Tailings from PT NNT are ground up rock remaining after valuable minerals are extracted the ore. PT NNT does not use mercury or cyanide in its mineral processing. ?Hence, our tailings placement system does not breach Indonesian laws and does not pose dangers to the environment,? said Malik Salim.
The community of Sumbawa Barat is not afraid of our tailings placement system. The community have been given adequate proper explanations and have visited the mine to check for themselves how we manage the tailings through the sub sea tailings placement system. ?The community of Sumbawa Barat is not worried. There are many concrete signs that they are very happy and strongly support PT NNT because they know that we manage our environment impact responsibly and that we have provided the community with significant economic benefits,? said Malik Salim.
The accusation about decreasing environmental quality and fish catch is also baseless as shown by the results from PT NNT?s internal monitoring programs and results from research conducted by the Independent Team established by NTB Governor, The National Institute for Science and Research Oceanography Center and CSIRO Australia. All show that there has been no major environmental impact from PT NNT?s sub sea tailings placement system. The abundance and diversity of fish and other sea animals have not been affected. ?Whether or not there is a real decrease in fish catch, dead fish in the sea, ?strange? illness in East Lombok is something for the government to review. If, as we suspect, they represent unfounded accusations, we hope that the government takes immediate and strong action against those involved in misleading the public. East Lombok is located about 50 km from tailings outfall location. There is no impact from the tailings in East Lombok,? said Malik Salim.
The accusation that PT NNT does not comply with the Indonesian laws in relation to ?unpaid wages amounting Rp75 million in wages and Rp400 billion in overtime work hours, is an unfounded statement. PT NNT has resolved the overtime dispute with the employees and has paid additional overtime in accordance with the directive from Supervisory Officer of Manpower Office of NTB. ?PT NNT complies with Indonesian laws, including manpower regulations. PT NNT gives a high priority to employing local people to work in the mine. More than 61% of PT NNT?s 4200 employees have been recruited from within NTB province with the major portion coming from Sumbawa and West Sumbawa. PT NNT also provides excellent salary and benefits,? said Malik Salim.
?In conclusion, Jatam?s statement in general does not represent the true condition and tends to mislead the public,? said Malik Salim. (end of release)