RBT shuts down tin mine in Bangka Belitung

PT Refined Bangka Tin (RBT), a subsidiary of Artha Graha Network, has shut down its tin mine in Bangka Belitung province to support the President Joko Widodo government?s policy of supporting the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

?All shareholders in Indonesia and partners in Singapore have agreed to stop the operation. The area will be turned into a conservation area,? Artha Graha Network?s Chairman Tomy Winata was quoted by Antara as saying on Monday.

RBT was established in 2007 with concession area in Bangka Belitung. The firm produced 2,000 tons of tin per month. It sold its products to the US, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Pakistan

Tomy said the decision to shut down the mine was taken following several audit results indicating ?the level of environmental soundness (at the mine) does not meet my expectation.?

?The area will be turned into a conservation area, won?t be sold, while the equipment will be destroyed,? he said.

He pledged that AGN and its affiliates Graha Peduli and Artha Graha Bank will be greener and more environmentally friendly in their operations. (*)