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Mining, oil & gas

Newmont case verdict - blow for communities and environment

Down to Earth No. 73, May 2007


The decision of a North Sulawesi court to find the US-based mining company, Newmont, not guilty of polluting the environment is a huge disappointment for NGOs and communities who have been struggling for years to hold this multinational gold mining company to account.


The Manado Court in North Sulawesi - the province where the now-closed Ratatotok gold mine was located - came up with its verdict on April 24th.

A nuclear future?

Down to Earth No. 72 March 2007

The Indonesian government is putting in place arrangements to develop its highly controversial nuclear power programme - starting with a reactor on the Muria peninsula in densely populated Central Java.

In December 2006, Indonesia made an agreement with South Korea which paves the way for cooperation on Indonesia's nuclear power programme.

North Sulawesi confronts Jakarta over MSM gold mine plans

Down to Earth No. 72 March 2007

The Toka Tindung gold mine project is now in doubt after strong opposition to Meares Soputan Mining's plans to build an open pit gold mine in a sensitive coastal area and dump mine waste into Rinondoran Bay.

A major blow came when an environmental hearing in August 2006 forced the company to alter its plans to instead use the more expensive option of disposal of tailings on land.

Community struggle against gold mine plans

Down to Earth 70, August 2006

Plans for a new gold mine on the northern tip of North Sulawesi are going ahead in the face of determined opposition from local communities.

No Newmont clean-up for Buyat Bay

Down to Earth No. 70, August 2006

Reclamation activities in Sulawesi by Newmont Minahasa Raya, the gold mining company majority-owned by US-based Newmont Mining Corp, are not dealing with the huge amounts of waste dumped in the sea.

Rio Tinto in new Sulawesi nickel project

Down to Earth No. 70, August 2006

A dramatic rise in the price of nickel is prompting the development of a major new nickel mine in Sulawesi. What will be the impacts for local people and their environment?

The Indonesian government and Anglo-Australian mining multinational Rio Tinto are negotiating the terms of a contract to develop the La Sampala nickel deposit on the borders of Southeast and Central Sulawesi. Spokesman for Rio Tinto in Indonesia, Anang R Noor, said the company plans to invest US$1 billion in the project.

New mine will mean more marine pollution in Sulawesi

Down to Earth No 68  February 2006

Villagers and NGOs are trying to stop a British-registered company developing a gold mine which could drastically affect the livelihoods of fisherfolk living in Rinondoran Bay, North Sulawesi.

Protests in Jakarta by community representatives from North Sulawesi against gold mining and its impacts on the marine environment, livelihoods and human health: the words 'Newmont', 'Buyat Bay' and 'STD' quickly spring to mind.