Govt set to announce Buyat inquiry result

JAKARTA: A government-sanctioned team mandated to probe possible metal contamination in Buyat Bay, North Sulawesi, is expected to announce the result of its investigation next week, an official said.

Masnellyarti Hilman, the deputy environment minister who chairs the team, said on Thursday the team had made several conclusions regarding the probe, but refused to elaborate.

She stressed the report commissioned by former environment minister Nabiel Makarim recently had nothing to with the team's work. That report said there was no pollution in the bay.

The joint team comprises government officials, activists, academics and a representative from Newmont, whose subsidiary PT Newmont Minahasa Raya is accused of contaminating the bay. -- JP