New Gold Mine Opening Plan in West Sumatra Draws the Spotlight
Padang, December 25, 2024 – A new gold mine project in West Sumatra has again become a hot topic after the local government announced plans to open a mining area in the protected forest area of South Solok Regency. This project is designed to increase regional income and the local economy. However, this plan has also drawn criticism from various parties regarding the potential for environmental damage and social impacts.
Promising Economic Potential
The local government stated that the gold reserves in the South Solok area are among the largest in Indonesia. This project is expected to contribute up to IDR 2 trillion in local revenue (PAD) per year. “This gold mine is a great opportunity for West Sumatra to improve the economy and provide direct benefits to the surrounding community,” said the Regent of South Solok in a press conference on Tuesday (24/12).
In addition, this project is also expected to create more than 5,000 jobs for local residents. The mining company, PT Emas Sejahtera Nusantara, stated that they are committed to prioritizing local workers and providing training for residents interested in working in the mine. “We want to ensure that the presence of this mine brings real benefits to the communities around our operational areas,” said a company spokesperson.
Threats to the Environment
On the other hand, environmental groups highlight the risk of enormous environmental damage. Opening a mine in a protected forest area has the potential to result in massive deforestation, loss of wildlife habitat, and disruption of the ecosystem balance. In addition, mining activities can also pollute rivers that are sources of clean water for the surrounding community.
“Gold mining has a much greater environmental impact than other mining because of the use of chemicals such as mercury and cyanide. If mining waste is not managed properly, the impact will be felt by the community for decades to come,” said Liana Wulandari, Director of the Environmental NGO Green Together.
The results of an initial study conducted by Andalas University also showed that the planned mining area includes a primary forest area that is a habitat for rare species, such as the Sumatran tiger and Sumatran rhinoceros. “The loss of this forest not only threatens rare species, but also exacerbates the risk of natural disasters such as floods and landslides,” said Dr. Indra Putra, an environmental expert from Andalas University.
Local Community Concerns
Indigenous communities living around the mining area have also voiced their concerns. They consider the land to be their customary land with high historical and cultural value. “We strongly reject this project because it will destroy our customary land. This area has been our source of livelihood for generations,” said Darman, a local customary leader.
In addition, several residents are also concerned that the presence of the gold mine will trigger social conflict, especially if the mining company does not involve the community fairly in sharing benefits and managing impacts. “We do not want to experience what happened in other areas, where mining only benefits a handful of parties,” he added.
Government Asked to be Transparent
Activists and academics are urging the government to be more transparent in the mining planning and licensing process. They are demanding an Environmental Impact Analysis (AMDAL) study involving community participation and independent experts.
“A mining project of this magnitude must go through a transparent and accountable process. This decision must not be made only based on short-term economic interests without considering the long-term impacts on the environment and community,” said Dr. Siti Aisyah, an environmental economics expert from the University of Indonesia.
Moving Forward
To date, the gold mining project in South Solok is still awaiting final approval from the central government. Amid pressure from various parties, the local government stated that it would hold a public consultation forum to hear the aspirations of the community before granting the final permit.
The mining company also stated its readiness to work with all parties to ensure that this project runs according to the principles of sustainability. “We are committed to complying with all regulations and ensuring that environmental impacts can be minimized as much as possible,” said a representative of PT Emas Sejahtera Nusantara.
The debate over this gold mine reflects the dilemma often faced by areas rich in natural resources in Indonesia. On the one hand, there is a need to exploit economic potential, but on the other hand, environmental sustainability and community life are major challenges. The final decision regarding this gold mine will determine the direction of West Sumatra’s future development.