Government to probe suspected pollution from Newmont mine
Abdul Khalik and Fitri Wulandari, Jakarta
The government has said it will launch an investigation into PT Newmont Minahasa Raya (NMR), a subsidiary of U.S. gold mining giant Newmont Mining Corporation, following reports that its operation had caused Minamata disease, which has killed 30 Minahasa regency villagers in North Sulawesi since 1996.
"We want to check whether the tailings (from Newmont) caused the disease. According to the environmental impact analysis conducted by the firm prior to operation, its tailings disposal system is safe," Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro said on Wednesday, but did not specify when the probe would start.
Tailings are the residual material rejected from a mill after recoverable minerals have been extracted.
Purnomo said the investigation would be carried out by a team of officials from the energy ministry and the Ministry of Health.
Also on Wednesday, the National Police announced it would sent a team to Minahasa on Thursday to investigate the company's waste management system.
"If we find any indication that they (Newmont) have damaged the environment and harmed people there, they will be held responsible," said special crimes chief Brig. Gen. Suharto.
Suharto added that a preliminary investigation showed Newmont's waste disposal pipe stretched only two kilometers from the coastline, far short of the required 10 km into deep sea.
As the industrial waste was not dumped in deep waters, it could rise to the surface and contaminate the marine environment.
Ratatotok villagers, accompanied by local doctor Jane Pangemanan, filed a complaint with the police on Tuesday against the gold mining firm for contaminating the waters of Buyat Bay, near its operations. They claimed the company had dumped tailings containing hazardous chemicals, including arsenic and mercury, into the bay for the past eight years.
A report from the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) in North Sulawesi said 30 people, including an infant, died from Minamata disease, contracted from water and fish taken from the contaminated bay.
Jane said laboratory tests showed the infant and other villagers had developed symptoms of Minamata disease, which is caused by mercury, particularly methylmercury (MeHg), accumulating in the bloodstream.
The disease was first discovered in May 1956 on Japan's Minamata Island, and is deemed one of most serious illnesses caused by industrial pollution.
Separately, NMR president director Richard B. Ness said some of the ore processed by the miner was naturally rich in mercury.
However, Ness said, the processing plant had efficiently removed any mercury by-products.
The company said it treated mine tailings at a detoxification plant before their disposal into waters 82 meters deep. The process minimized the volume of heavy metals in the tailings.
"In our survey and comparative studies on Buyat Bay and Ratatotok, we haven't found any high level of mercury," Ness said.
Newmont alleged that illegal gold miners, who operate around Ratatotok, might have contaminated the waters.
"Illegal miners in the NMR area release large quantities of mercury directly into the rivers and waters of Minahasa," Ness said.
The company welcomed the planned government investigation, but is considering filing a complaint against Walhi for defamation.