University to hold public debate on Newmont Minahasa’s tailing disposal

The University of Sam Ratulangi in Manado, North Sulawesi will soon hold a public debate about the impact of the submarine-tailing disposal (STD) applied by gold mine operator PT Newmont Minahasa Raya in the province, Investor Daily reported on Saturday.

Lucky Sondak, the university’s rector, said in Jakarta on Friday that the public debate would try to find out the real impact of the STD on the environment and the nearby villagers.

He said that based on the result of the study carried out by the university’s environmental study center, the submarine tailing disposal had caused a severe impact on the environment.

“Newmont, however, opposed the result of the study. The company acknowledged there was an environmental impact of the STD, but the impact is still tolerable,” he said.

Newmont Minahasa dumped its mine tailings at a submarine dumping ground in Buyat Bay near its mining site. The operation of the submarine-tailing disposal had incited controversy, leading the company to close its gold mining site in the province. (*)