Gold mining in Sumbawa

Gold mining in Sumbawa

On March 28, 1996 The Jakarta Post reported Gold mining to start in Sumbawa. The report was about an agreement in principle between Newmont Gold Co. and Sumitomo Corp. to jointly develop and operate a mining project at Batu Hijau on Sumbawa in West Nusa Tenggara. At stake is about 11.2 billion pounds of copper and 14.7 million ounces of gold. Batu Hijau is expected to produce about 245,000 short tons of copper and about 500,000 ounces of gold annually for 20 years. Newmont and Sumitomo intend to invest a large amount of money to build the necessary infrastructure and to hire the necessary personnel.

I wonder if the tragedy of the Freeport mining project in Irian Jaya will be repeated in Sumbawa. The mining project in Batu Hijau certainly can earn a lot of money. When the mine is running, I hope Minister Ginandjar Kartasasmita does not forget to spend royalties from the project on reconstruction and to enhance the welfare of the local people through education and training. They should be trained to take part as managers, not just laborers.

The recent upheavals in Tembagapura and Timika in Irian Jaya, and the meeting between the minister and the heads of various Irianese tribes, show that the locals must be considered in all negotiations. They are after all the proprietors of the land and the minerals. I appeal to my government to listen to their grievances and absorb their suggestions on how the reconstruction of their area should be carried out in order to create jobs and to avoid tragedies similar to the ones happening in Irian Jaya.

KUMORO UTOYO

Jakarta