The fate of Newmont Nusa Tenggara's tailing ground to be decided this week

The office of the state minister of environment is expected to issue this week its decision over the extension of the permit of PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara's submarine tailing placement (STP) in West Nusa Tenggara, Investor Daily reported on Monday.

State Minister of Environment Rachmat Witoelar said in Jakarta last week that his office was processing the gold mining company's application for the extension of the permit of its undersea mineral waste dumping ground.

"I don't know whether we will extend the permit or not, just wait and see next week (this week)," Rachmat said, adding that the government needed to learn from the experience with other Newmont's affiliate PT Newmont Minahasa Raya in North Sulawesi before extending the permit of Nemont Nusa Tenggara's STP.

As reported by the press, Newmont Minahasa Raya's submarine tailing place in the Buyat bay had caused a serious environmental problem. The office of the state minister of environment recently filed a lawsuit against the company for polluting the sea around its STP location.(*)