Halmahera Tengah Regent seeks approval for utilizing protected forest

Regency head of Halmahera Tengah, Maluku, M Al Yasin Ali, said the local government is still waiting for approval of the forestry ministry to change the utilization of protected forest into a limited productive forest area, covering 3,500 hectares of land.

The land is former nickel mining site of PT Aneka Tambang Tbk (Antam). Al Yasin said Antam?s contract expires in 2004. Antam could no longer mine on the site after the area was declared as a protected forest by the forestry ministry.

However, given the fact there is still nickel reserve on the area, the local government intends to explore the area. For this purpose, the Halmahera Tengah regency government seeks forestry ministry?s approval to mine the side that could benefit the local community.

?We have issued seven mining permits (IUP) to mine nickel on the site, previously developed by Antam. The permits were issued by Regency head (Bupati) before me. The status of the IUPs is pending on permit to use the land based on rent-use mechanism,? he said.

He said the permit to mine on the area will only be issued after the forestry ministry issues a permit to utilize a protected forest area.

Nickel companies that have secured mining permits (IUP) are including PT Fajar Bhakti Lintas Nusantara, PT Mineral Trobos, PT Lopoly and PT Bahtera Nusantara. (giok)