Traditional gold miners use hazardous mercury material
Friday, February 9 2001 - 04:30 AM WIB
Some 95 percent of traditional gold miners in North Barito regency, Central Kalimantan, are using mercury in their gold production, which is dangerous to human health and the environment, the local Banjarmasin-post daily reported on Friday.
The paper quoted the findings of the local office of the Bapeldalda environmental watchdog.
Head of the North Barito Bapedalda office Ardiansyah Romzah said that hundreds of traditional miners using mercury were operating near the mining site of gold mining company PT Indo Muro Kencana.
He said that one traditional miner controlled 6-12 machines, while each machine used at least 1 Kg of mercury.
"We have taken soil samples near the mining location, and the it is positive that the traditional miners were using mercury," Ardiansyah said.
"In the near term, the impact of the mercury will not be felt, but it would be a disaster after five years," he added.
He said that his office would help prevent the disaster by mercury filters at Rp 1.5 million (US$1=Rp 9,500) each. He said that four units would be given for free.(*)