South Kalimantan Governor to make sure mining investors not to damage local environment

South Kalimantan Governor Sjachriel Darham said on Thursday that his office would make sure that two new mining investors planning gold exploration activities in the Meratus area would not damage the local environment.

Sjachriel was quoted by the local Kapos daily as saying that his office was still studying the plan of the two mining investors, but he said that the mining activity must be conducted via underground mining to avoid massive cut of forest trees.

Sjachriel made the statement following protest from several environmental watchdog including the popular Walhi group over plans by PT Meratus Sumber Mas and PT Pelsart Tambang Kencana to mine an area of around 277,263 hectares covering four districts in South Kalimantan including Kotabaru, Hulusungai Selatan, Banjar and Tanah Laut. The mining exploration is expected to start on June 30.

There has been concern that the mining activity would deteriorate the environment in the Meratus area, a forest conservation area.(*)