Govt reviews Conoco concession

Tue, 20 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB | Source: JP

JAKARTA (JP): The government is reviewing a concession awarded
to American oil company Conoco Inc. inside the Lorentz National
Park in Irian Jaya following complaints from local people and
environmental organizations, Antara reported on Saturday.

The Ministry of Forestry has formed a team -- which also
involves representatives from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral
Resources, Indonesian Institute of Sciences and non-governmental
organizations -- to re-evaluate the 150,000 hectares of
concession, said Mohammad Thoha Mochtar, the head of the forestry
planning board.

The concession was granted to the American company in October
with the approval of the United Nation Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The UN agency regards the
1.45 million hectare Lorentz Park as a world heritage site.

Opponents of the concession say that any oil exploration work
in the area will destroy the park, Thoha said.

The team will also investigate allegations of impropriety in
the way the concession was granted, he added. (05)

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