Newmont, Walhi agree to verify cyanide study<\/p>\n
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Gold mining firm Newmont Minahasa Raya (NMR) and the Indonesian
\nForum for the Environment (Walhi) agreed on Thursday to verify
\nthe latter's study, which revealed that the cyanide in the mining
\ncompany's tailings exceeded the safe level set by the government.<\/p>\n
NMR external relations manager Christian E. David Sompie said
\nthat verification by an independent party was important to prove
\nwhether Walhi's study was reliable.<\/p>\n
\"It's good development if the study can be verified. We
\nbelieve that if there is a good intention, there will be a
\nsolution,\" he said, adding that the verification should have been
\nconducted by the now defunct Environmental Impact Management
\nAgency (Bapedal).<\/p>\n
Sompie insisted that the volume of cyanide in NMR tailings was
\nstill below the level set by the government. He said that as of
\n2002, free cyanide measured at 0.02 milligrams per liter, while
\nweak acid dissociable cyanide was between 0.2 and 0.48, both
\nbelow the government limit of 0.5.<\/p>\n
Cyanide is used to extract gold from crushed ore. Aside from
\ncyanide, mercury can also be used in this process.<\/p>\n
NMR has operated its gold mine in the North Sulawesi village
\nof Ratatotok in Belang subdistrict, Minahasa regency, since 1996.
\nThe mine plans to close its operation later this year, but must
\nmonitor its mining closure for the next three years.<\/p>\n
Separately, Walhi executive director Longgena Ginting said
\nWalhi was also prepared to verify its study with an independent
\nteam.<\/p>\n
\"Verification of our findings from an independent team is what
\nwe need. We don't want to see people suffer from health problems
\nand environmental damage after NMR leaves the mine,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Walhi announced on Wednesday its study on NMR tailings,
\nreporting that the tailings contained four times the government-
\nallowed level of cyanide, endangering the health of local
\nresidents and the surrounding environment.<\/p>\n
The study, which was made in June 2001 and in January 2002,
\nalso stated that the high levels of cyanide and other chemicals
\n-- mercury, cadmium and arsenic -- in Buyat Bay had reduced the
\ncatch of local fishermen.<\/p>\n
Locals had also begun to suffer health problems, mostly brain
\ndamage and spasms, the study said.<\/p>\n
The study also claimed that NMR's tailings pipeline was prone
\nto leakage, saying that four leaks had occurred in the last seven
\nyears.<\/p>\n
Commenting on Walhi's study, Sompie raised several questions
\nincluding on the location where the cyanide was found, the
\ndistribution of health problems and the credibility of the
\nlaboratory that analyzed Walhi's study.<\/p>\n
For example, he said, local people could suffer health
\nproblems, but it should be further traced to see whether or not
\nthe problem was widespread due to NMR's tailings.<\/p>\n
\"I have lived there for about nine years. So far, I found one
\nor two local families who have claimed that they have contracted
\ndiseases from the tailings. But most of them didn't claim this,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/newmont-walhi-agree-to-verify-cyanide-study-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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