IMA warns on ban on use of STP system<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The development of the country's mining sector
\ncould suffer a major setback if the government bans the use of
\nthe submarine tailing placement (STP) system in mining
\noperations, according to the Indonesian Mining Association (IMA).<\/p>\n
IMA executive director Paul L. Coutrier said over the weekend
\nthat if the ban was imposed it would certainly discourage mining
\ndevelopment in resource-rich provinces.<\/p>\n
\"If the method is banned, it will halt mining development,
\nparticularly in the resource-rich provinces of eastern Indonesia
\nand Sumatra,\" he was quoted by the Bisnis Indonesia daily as
\nsaying.<\/p>\n
The pressure to ban undersea tailing disposal has been
\nmounting following allegations by the Network for Mining Advocacy
\n(Jatam) and the Indonesian Environmental Forum (Walhi) that the
\ntailing disposal method applied by PT Newmont Minahasa Raya in
\nNorth Sulawesi and its affiliate, gold and copper mining company
\nPT Newmont Nusa Tenggara, in West Nusa Tenggara has resulted in
\nmassive pollution.<\/p>\n
The two organizations also asked the government to halt both
\ncompanies' operations in the country.<\/p>\n
Coutrier said that the allegations were inaccurate because
\nthe water quality was better and the metal content in the area
\nsurrounding the disposal grounds was less that the respective
\nminimum and maximum levels set by the government.<\/p>\n
He added that the two companies' tailing disposal systems
\nreached sea depths of more than 100 meters, which was quite safe
\nas only a few marine creatures could live at such depths.<\/p>\n
Newmont, a subsidiary of the United States-based Newmont
\nCorporation, also denied the accusation, saying that its
\noperations' disposal systems had been categorically proven not to
\nharm the environment, and were permitted in the U.S. and Canada.<\/p>\n
The government is still assessing the impact of the practice
\nprior to giving its verdict.<\/p>\n
Newmont Minahasa Raya has been implementing the undersea
\ndisposal method since 1996 to dispose of tailings, or mineral
\nwaste, amounting to about 2,000 tons a day in Buyat bay,
\nMinahasa, North Sulawesi.<\/p>\n
Its affiliate, Newmont Nusa Tenggara, has been using the
\ndisposal system since June 2000 to dump its tailing waste in the
\nwaters off West Nusa Tenggara. (05)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ima-warns-on-ban-on-use-of-stp-system-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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