Submarine tailing disposal still allowable despite Newmont's problem

State Minister of Environment Rachmat Witoelar has made it clear that the application of the submarine-tailing disposal (STD) is allowable as long as the undersea mineral waste technology does not bring a negative impact to the environment, Neraca reported on Tuesday.

"Technically, we do not ban the submarine tailing disposal, if the system does not cause environmental problem," Witoelar told the press after attending a hearing with members of the House of Representatives (DPR).

Witoelar said with such a policy, the government would likely extend the permit awarded to PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara (NNT) to continue the operation of its submarine-tailing disposal, which would expire in May, this year.

"The extension of the license is being processed. There will no problem to extend the license as long as the undersea mineral waste dumping ground does not cause environmental problem," he said.

Like its sister Newmont Minahasa Raya (NMR), Newmont Nusa Tenggara (NNT), which operates gold mine in West Nusa Tenggara, also uses a submarine-tailing disposal (STD) system to dump its mineral waste. However, unlike that of NMR, the undersea dumping ground operated by NNT had caused no environmental problem.

As earlier reported, the office of the state minister of environment will sue NMR through the South Jakarta district court for damaging the environment. NMR is demanded to pay US$117 million in damages in the legal suit. (*)