Witness testifies in favor of Newmont

Witness testifies in favor of Newmont

MANADO, North Sulawesi: The Environmental Impact Analysis
(Amdal) commission at the mines and energy ministry approved the
installment by PT Newmont Minahasa Raya of its undersea tailings
outlet pipe in Buyat Bay, a witness testified here on Friday.

The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) was on the
commission that gave the approval, said Siegried Lesiasals, who
chaired Newmont's Amdal formation team.

Speaking at the pollution trial of the U.S.-based mining firm
at the Manado District Court, he said officials from the Office
of the State Minister of the Environment were also on the Amdal
commission.

Lesiasals said his team had 16 experts from various
backgrounds on it.

The government's Amdal commission, he added, had surmised that
disposing of the tailings on land posed a bigger risk than
disposing of them in the sea.

Newmont has been charged with polluting Buyat Bay following
complaints by local residents. --JP