Freeport commissions environmental audit
Freeport commissions environmental audit
JAKARTA (JP): Giant American copper mining company PT Freeport
Indonesia has commissioned two U.S.-based consultancy firms to
conduct independent environmental studies of its operations in
Irian Jaya.
The two companies, Labat-Anderson Incorporated of McLean,
Virginia, and Dames & Moore Indonesia, a branch of the Los
Angeles-based company of the same name, were picked from 10
applicants, Freeport said in a statement released yesterday.
The studies have been commissioned at a total cost of
US$500,000, which will be fully borne by Freeport. Between them,
they will include assessment of rural development in Timika, the
town where Freeport's operations are based, as well as
environmental, economic and cultural aspects, the statement said.
The move is part of the company's effort to preserve a
habitable environment for the local people and to prevent any
health hazards which the copper and gold mining activities might
cause to the local people, the statement continued.
"Dames & Moore will perform the environmental audit and Labat-
Anderson will perform the social audit, with completion dates
estimated for the first quarter of 1996," the statement added.
Freeport said the qualifications of the two firms met the
criteria set out by the Environmental Impact Management Agency
(Bapedal) and the Ministry of Mines and Energy.
Independent
In separate statements, also issued yesterday, the two
companies said they would work independently and could not be
dictated to by Freeport. The results should be publicly announced
next April, they said.
Freeport's environmental practices have been questioned by
some local non-government organizations. The Indonesian Forum for
the Environment (Walhi) is currently pursuing action in the
Jakarta State Administrative Court against the Ministry of Mines
and Energy for accepting Freeport's environmental impact
management plan in spite of objections from the group.
There have been reports recently that Freeport's area of
operations has been the site of a number of clashes between the
military and the local people. The National Commission on Human
Rights and the Army have launched separate investigations into
the reports, according to which at least 17 civilians were
killed.
The military has said that there have been clashes between
soldiers and rebels of the Free Papua Movement in Timika.
Paul Murphy, a director of Freeport, denied yesterday
suggestions that his company had anything to do with the clashes.
Murphy also denied that Freeport's operations in Timika had
excluded the local people.
"Since our first operation in the 1960s, the number of locals
living in Freeport's area has increased from 600 to 60,000 people
at the moment," he said, adding that Freeport contributed
significantly to the improvement of the local people's welfare.
Separately, State Minister of Environment Sarwono
Kusumaatmadja defended Freeport yesterday in the face of
accusations that it is neglecting its social and environmental
obligations.
He said Freeport was working to solve some of the problems
associated with the environment.
"But there are some people out there who would continue to
pick on its mistakes, and would not be content even if it has
made amends," Sarwono said. "They are seeking to profit from the
situation." (03/05)