Rio Tinto unit mining plan protested
Wednesday, August 23 2000 - 02:30 AM WIB
The plans by PT Citra Palu Mineral (CPM), a unit of the Rio Tinto mining giant, to implement gold mining activity in Paboya Panek area in Central Sulawesi is strongly protested by the mining advocacy network or popularly called JATAM, a local non-governmental organization.
JATAM coordinator Chalid Muhamad said that the CPM gold mining project was located in the Paboya Panek forest conservation area. He said that the forest has functioned as a water reservoir for the Central Sulawesi people.
"If the company implement mining activity in the area, there will be fatal consequences particularly for the people in the Palu area because the Palu River would be contaminated by chemical materials. The river has been the source of drinking water for the local people," Chalid said.
He added that the CPM gold mining project was in violation of the existing rulings on conservation of natural resources and forest.
CPM received its mining contract of work in 1998. (R. Amoros)