Mining, oil & gas

Down to Earth No. 45, May 2000

The fate of Newmont's Sulawesi gold mine has drawn attention to contracts in the context of moves towards regional autonomy.

PT Newmont Minahasa Raya, 80% owned by Newmont Mining Corp. of the US, operates the mine at Ratatotok, which produces 340 kg of gold a year.

Down to Earth No. 45, May 2000

Opposition is mounting to large-scale mining in Indonesia as communities speak out about its effects on their lives and the environment, but foreign companies are warning the Wahid government not to change the contracts they signed during the Suharto regime.

Indonesia's foreign-dominated mining industry is on the defensive.

Down to Earth No 45 May 2000


NGOs protest US meddling

Indonesian NGOs have protested against pressure by the US Embassy in Jakarta to cut the funding of JATAM, the mining advocacy network. A joint statement defends JATAM's call for a moratorium on mining and supports the organisation's advocacy work on Newmont, the US-based company operating the Ratatotok gold mine in North Sulawesi).

Down to Earth No. 44, February 2000

Companies which have profited from Indonesia's iron-fisted rule in West Papua, may be starting to feel jittery as calls for independence grow more insistent.

On December 1st last year celebrations took place in towns all over West Papua to mark the 38th anniversary of independence, declared when the territory was still under Dutch rule.

Down to Earth No 44, February 2000

Kalimantan: bauxite and uranium

West Kalimantan is being lined up for more environmental damage and social disruption with a new bauxite mine in the feasibility study stage and a uranium deposit under detailed exploration work.

Down to Earth No 44, February 2000

The need to control transnational mining companies. A Canadian case study.

Down to Earth No. 44, February 2000

Companies are hinting they may withhold further investment if conditions don't improve.

Mining companies with mines or exploration programmes in Indonesia are claiming that illegal mining and the collapse of law and order is threatening the mining industry there.