Govt questioned over mining in protected forests
Govt questioned over mining in protected forests
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
A leading non-governmental organization has demanded a
clarification of a recent government proposal to allow more
mining firms to resume operating in protected forests.
The Indonesian Center for Environment Law (ICEL) has also
questioned the inclusion of PT Karimun Granit in the government's
proposed list of mining companies despite the fact that its
mining contract was awarded in 2000 following the enactment of
Law No 41/1999 on forestry, which bans open pit mining in
protected forests.
The proposal has been submitted to the House of
Representatives for approval.
Separately, State Minister for the Environment Nabiel Makarim
said on Friday he had raised the issue with his colleagues in the
Cabinet.
"I asked whether 22 was a sacred number, so that new firms
were included in the government list to meet the figure," Nabiel
said.
Last year, the government proposed to the House that 22 mining
companies be allowed to operate in protected areas in accordance
with contracts originally given to them by the government.
These companies were awarded contracts before their
concessions were converted into protected forests following the
implementation of the new forestry law outlawing open pit mining
in protected areas.
Later on the government halved the number of firms on the list
for various reasons, ranging from imminent closure to gloomy
business prospects.
But late last month, the government, through the Office of the
Coordinating Minister for the Economy, picked 11 mining firms as
replacements although the were not part of the original 22-strong
list. Wimpy S. Tjetjep, director general for geology and mineral
resources at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, said
the additional firms had been added as their concessions allowed
economies of scale to be developed.
Wimpy added that following the enactment of the forestry law,
158 companies had requested approval to continue their operations
in protected areas.
According to ICEL data, the additional mining firms contained
in the proposed list are PT Antam Sulawesi, PT Antam Maluku, PT
Sorik Mas Mining, PT Interex Sacra Raya, PT Maruwai Coal, PT Irja
Eastern Mining, PT Sungai Kencana, PT Barito Intan Mas, PT
Masmindo Dwi Area and PT Kalteng Coal.
The other 11 are those proposed last year: PT Gag Nickel, PT
Weda Bay, PT Nusa Halmahera Mineral, PT Meratus Sumber Mas (now
PT Pelsart Tambang Kencana), PT Freeport Indonesia, PT Karimun
Granite, PT Natarang Mining, PT Indominco Mandiri, PT Newmont
Nusa Tenggara, PT INCO, PT Nabire Bhakti.
The House will decide whether or not to change the status of
these firms' concessions from protected forests to production
forests after a government team conducts the necessary re-
assessments.
ICEL advocacy head Indriyani Augustine has expressed deep
concern over the absence of government transparency in the
selection of the new firms.
"Mining contracts should be awarded only to companies which
pass the screening process. The government should not seek other
companies just to meet the figure of 22," she said.
"But on top of that, we still disagree with the plan to allow
mining operations in protected areas since besides being against
the law, it will certainly endanger the environment and displace
tribal communities living near the mines."