No new cement plants

JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Forestry will stop issuing recommendations to any new cement plant in Java because of environmental consideration.

But the ministry will still process applications that had already been received by yesterday, the Director General of Inventory and Forest Land Use, Sumahadi, told reporters.

"There are eight projects being processed," he said.

A recommendation from the Ministry of Forestry is necessary for all new cement projects which involved the conversion of forest areas.

The decision was taken in response to a letter from State Minister of Environment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja who said that new cement plants and quarrying of cement raw materials could have adverse effects on the already depleted environment in Java.

Java's forest area has dwindled to 2.9 million hectares or 22 percent of its total land area, below the 30 percent minimum limit required to ensure sustainable water reserves.

A cement plant requires an area of at least 1,000 hectares for lime and clay quarries, Sumahadi said. (08)