Pulp mill study approval upsets environmentalists<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Forum for Environment (Walhi)
\ncriticized the government yesterday for accepting an incomplete
\nfeasibility study for the development of a giant pulp mill in
\nSouth Sumatra.<\/p>\n
The study, commissioned by PT Tanjung Enim Lestari Pulp and
\nPaper, reportedly failed to take into account the project's
\nnegative impacts on people in surrounding areas.<\/p>\n
\"Learning from the accumulative impacts (from the clearing of
\nthe site) of the project over the years, it is environmentally
\nunfeasible. The plan to construct the factory, therefore, must be
\nscrapped,\" Chalid Muhammad of the Walhi told a press conference.<\/p>\n
PT Tanjung Enim Lestari plans to start building the Rp 2.6
\ntrillion (US$1 billion) pulp mill as soon as it gains a business
\nlicense from the government. Licenses will only be awarded after
\na project's environmental impact assessment (AMDAL) has been
\nendorsed.<\/p>\n
The company's study was endorsed Monday by the Ministry of
\nIndustry and Trade's Central Commission for AMDAL despite Walhi's
\nprotests.<\/p>\n
Walhi representatives attended the presentation of the
\ncompany's study to the commission.<\/p>\n
Authorized staff at the Environmental Impact Management
\nAgency, which endorses the studies, could not be reached for
\ncomment yesterday.<\/p>\n
Chalid said, \"The commission only jotted down our objections,
\nand it only provided trivial explanations to our questions.\"<\/p>\n
Chalid alleged that the study failed to address the
\ndestruction of forest caused by the clearing of 1,250 hectares
\nfor the pulp mill and its industrial estate.<\/p>\n
\"It has endangered the lives of people in the five villages in
\nthe area whose livelihood depends on the rubber plantation that
\nhas been felled,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The mill's site crosses two subdistricts, Gunung Megang and
\nRambang Dangku, in Muara Enim regency, about 130 kilometers west
\nof South Sumatra's capital of Palembang.<\/p>\n
Walhi said the environmental impact assessment failed to
\nmention the relationship between the mill and the timber estate
\nPT Musi Hutan Persada, which will supply the mill's timber.<\/p>\n
The mill is scheduled to start operating by the year 2000 with
\nan initial capacity of 450,000 tons of pulp a year.<\/p>\n
In its first year of production, the mill is expected to
\nprocess about two million cubic meters of wood.<\/p>\n
\"By ignoring the connection between the two, the study has
\nfailed to see whether the mill's raw material supplier complies
\nwith the environmental law and other laws,\" Chalid said.<\/p>\n
PT Tanjung Enim is owned by Barito Pacific Group (with a 51
\npercent holding), Sumatra Pulp Corporation (33 percent) and PT
\nTridan Satriaputra Indonesia (16 percent).<\/p>\n
PT Tridan Satriaputra is controlled by President Soeharto's
\ndaughter Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana.<\/p>\n
Sumatra Pulp Corporation is a joint venture of Marubeni
\nCorporation, Nippon Paper Industries and Japan's Overseas
\nEconomic Cooperation Fund.<\/p>\n
Musi Persada is 60 percent owned by Barito Pacific Group and
\n40 percent by state-owned PT Inhutani II. Musi Persada has
\nreforested 155,000 hectares of its 300,000-hectare concession,
\nwhich lies about 25 kilometers south of the mill.<\/p>\n
Livelihood<\/p>\n
Walhi said the study also failed to mention unfair land
\nappropriation by the company, which forced locals to sell their
\nrubber plantations.<\/p>\n
Tamim, 57, a local farmer who came from his hometown of Muara
\nNiru village to attend the press conference, said he was only
\noffered Rp 300 (12 cents) a meter for his land.<\/p>\n
Another villager, Umar, 46, said that he and his fellow
\nvillagers only wanted a clear explanation on the possible
\nenvironmental impacts of the mill when it starts production.<\/p>\n
Walhi said, \"There will have to be rehabilitation and
\ncompensation from the company for all the environmental impacts
\nand disadvantages that the people have suffered from this
\nproject.\"<\/p>\n
Walhi said that land clearing should not have begun before the
\nstudy had been endorsed. (aan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pulp-mill-study-approval-upsets-environmentalists-1447893297",
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"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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