JAKARTA — Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) reported a number of environmental violations committed by PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI). The ministry has given administrative sanctions against 48 violations which among others consist of 31 violations related to environmental impact assessment (Amdal), environmental management plan (RKL), environmental monitoring plan (RPL), and environmental permit.
PTFI also has been sanctioned for five findings consisted of water pollution, five findings of air pollution, and seven findings of waste management and B3. Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar revealed the violations when presenting 2017 Central Government Financial Report; Environmental Management from Mining Wastes and Hazardous Toxic Materials (B3), Post-mining Reclamation and Handling of PTFI environmental issues in Working Meeting with Commission VII of the House of Representatives (DPR) on Tuesday.
From 48 sanctions, 35 of them have been imposed. However, further investigation needed, especially related to the value of environmental losses that reached Rp185 trillion. “Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) recommends Ministry of Environment and Forestry and Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to take steps to improve ecosystem on modified area,” said Siti.
Meanwhile, Commission VII House of Representatives expected unqualified opinion or also known as wajar tanpa pengecualian (WTP) from Supreme Audit Agency to Ministry of Environment and Forestry Financial Report to be maintained. The commission also supported ministry to issue administrative sanctions to PTFI, as stipulated in the Decree of the Minister of LHK No.SK.5559 / MENLHK-PHLHK / PPSA / GKM.0 / 10/2017.
“Commission VII asks Environment and Forestry Minister to calculate the environmental losses due to damage and pollution from the operational results of PTFI as Supreme Audit Agency findings,” said Commission VII House of Representatives chairman Gus Irawan Pasaribu.
