Gold mines in Bengkulu closed

BENGKULU, Bengkulu: Illegal gold mining at Lebong Tandai, Lebong Sulit and Lebong Donok has been temporarily terminated for fear of landslide and damage to the ecosystem, deputy head of the provincial mines and energy office Zulkifli Abdullah said here on Wednesday.

He said the license for the three mining areas issued in 1969 was later revoked, pursuant to the decision of the minister of mines No. 055/2011/M.PE/1994, as they were located in protected forests.

Zulkifli added that the three locations, which had been exploited for decades and covered an area of 14,425 hectares, had been badly damaged by hundreds of illegal miners.

Zulkifli further revealed that the miners' income had drastically decreased over the last five years.--Antara