Walhi protests plans to allow mining, gas exploration in South Sumatra forest
Monday, April 8 2002 - 04:03 AM WIB
The South Sumatra office of the independent environmental watchdog Walhi protested the local administration policy to allow gold mining activity and 3D seismic activity in two separate protected forest conservation areas, the Jakarta-based Republika daily reported Monday.
The paper quoted South Sumatra Walhi executive director Boediman Kertopati as saying that the Kerinci Seblat National Park in Musi Rawas regency is under threat by plans of gold mining firm PT Barisan Tropical Mining to exploit gold reserves in the area.
Meanwhile, oil and gas firm PT Gulf Resources Indonesia is planning to launch a 3D seismic activity on a 5,600 ha site of the Dangku conservation forest area in Musi Banyuasin regency to find natural gas.
The area has an estimated 46 million barrel of natural as reserves.(*)