Walhi criticizes Antam's dumping ground

Indonesian green organization Walhi has strongly criticized state owned general mining company PT Antam's tailing dumping ground at the Kolaka beach, Southeast Sulawesi, Investor daily reported on Friday.

The head of Walhi's local office, La Ode Ota said that the company's tailings dumped into the Kolaka beach had caused a serious damage to the environment surrounding the beach.

"The ferronickel tailings dumped by Antam in the area has polluted almost all parts of the Kolaka maritime conservation area," he said.

Antam?s head of investors relations, Eko Andriawan, said, however, that the tailings dumped by the company contained no hazardous substances and caused no problem to the environment. (*)