Rio Tinto will explore for gold in Central Sulawesi

Mining company PT Rio Tinto will prospect for gold in Central Sulawesi, according to the company's deputy director for external relations, Anang Rizkani Noor.

"Based on our estimation, Central Sulawesi contains a large gold reserve, although we don't know yet the exact location," Noor said in Palu, the capital city of Central Sulawesi on Tuesday.

He noted that it would need a long period of time, maybe up to 10 years, to explore for gold in the territory.

The company, Noor said, used to explore for gold in Poboya in South Palu subdistrict, but it stopped the exploration because of strong protests from local people who feared that the gold mining activities in their areas could cause flooding.

Noor said that the company was now considering environmental and social impacts of gold exploration and mining activities in the province, before the company commences any exploration activities.

Nevertheless, the Central Sulawesi administration had been receptive and supportive of the company's plan to mine gold in the province. But the company would first talk to local people to get their inputs before the company conducts any activity there.

Meanwhile, the speaker of the Central Sulawesi Legislative Council, Aminuddin Ponulele, said that the council would also be supportive with mining activities in the province.

However, he warned that any company wanting to explore for minerals in the province must meet all stringent requirements, including containing environment and social impacts of the mining activities. (*)