PT Antam awaits govt decision on nickel exploration at marine park

Publicly listed general mining company PT Aneka Tambang (Antam) said that it is up to the Southeast Sulawesi government weather or not the local administration would allow it to explore nickel on Bahubuu island, of the protected marine area in Lasolo gulf.

?We will not force our way to develop the nickel mine on the island. It is up to the local government who has the authority to issue the permit,? the head of the company?s public relations department Syamsuddin Haming said in Kendari.

If the local government issues the license, the company will go ahead with its plan to develop the 30-hectare nickel mine on the island, which is estimated to contain nickel reserves of 2.4 percent, much higher the 2.3 percent nickel deposit found in the company?s mine concession in the Buton regency.

Syamsuddin said that the proven size of the nickel reserve on the Bahuburu island had not yet been calculated but the nickel production on the island could last for 20 years.

The company?s plan to develop nickel mine on the island has received a strong opposition from local non-government organizations. The NGOs said that the development of the island into mining area would cause a major destruction to the protected marine area. (*)