Newmont dismisses New York Times report
Rebecca Keenan
miningnews.net
Thursday, September 09, 2004
NEWMONT Mining Corporation has hit back at allegations that its Minahasa
operation in Indonesia polluted local waters with mine tailings, saying
the project never posed a threat to human health or the environment.
Newmont was responding to an article in The New York Times which said the operation had polluted water in Buyat Bay in North
Sulawesi.
"The facts, the science, and the independent laboratory results all
confirm Minahasas strict environmental practices protected the people and
waters of Buyat Bay," said vice president environmental affairs and
sustainable development, David Baker.
The Minahasa operation commenced production in 1996 and mining was
completed in 2001. In 2001 the operation yielded 341,500oz at a total cash
cost of US$142 per ounce. Production in 2002 came in at 147,200oz.
Newmont said the mine was among the first in Indonesia to undergo a
comprehensive environmental permitting process prior to breaking ground
for construction.
The CSIRO recently conducted additional testing of the water which Newmont
said confirmed that the quality of waters in Buyat Bay were within
applicable standards designed to protect human health and the environment.
The World Health Organisation and the Japanese Minamata Institute also
conduced independent testing and assessment. The WHO study is still
underway while the Minamata Institute determined there was no Minamata
disease, which is a neurological disorder caused by methylmercury
poisoning.