PT Inco denies pollution accusation

Nickel producer PT International Nickel Company (PT Inco) has denied allegations that its South Sulawesi projects had caused serious pollution.

"Their accusations are totally groundless. I can not understand why they demonstrated," PT Inco's government relations and public affairs senior supervisor Rajeshanagara told Petromindo.Com Wednesday.

Rajeshanagara was commenting on Wednesday's demonstration by a group of environmental activists at the Canadian embassy in Jakarta.

The protesters, who were from non-government organizations including Mining Advocacy Network (Jatam) and Indonesian Environmental Forum (Walhi), said Inco's nickel mining activities had caused serious air pollution in Soroako, South Sulawesi, and had caused damages to area lake and rivers. The pollution had caused many children in the area suffer from cold and asthma, they said.

They also accused PT Inco of forcing Soroako villagers to surrender their land to it.

They urged the Canadian government to take strict measures against the company.

PT Inco operates several nickel mines in Soroako, which is located in South Sulawesi's Luwu regency.

The firm, one of the world's largest nickel producers that has operated in Soroako since 1968, is a subsidiary of Canadian nickel giant Inco Limited. (leo)