It is unlikely that new governor will try to close down the GMC...

It is unlikely that new governor will try to close down the GMC smelter directly since its not mining. However what will happen is that without the cheap local manganese ore it will be impossible for GMC to be profitable as it will need to import raw materials from elsewhere.
You cannot blame the new governor for wanting to close down mining in NTT, its been a disgrace up until now and many people have suffered. Until reading a few stories I had no idea it was so bad. It is really going to be a big fight from both parties.




The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) Regional Executive of NTT appreciates the policy of the new governor and deputy governor that is firm about the memorandum of all minerba mining activities in NTT.
The policy, according to Walhi NTT, is alignment to environmental sustainability. But there are some important points that must be considered in the moratorium on mining permits.
"First, the question of the seriousness of the NTT provincial government in conducting a moratorium on mining permits can be seen from the efforts of whether the governor dares to stop the planned construction of a smelter?" Said Umbu Wulang Tanamahu Paranggi, Director of Walhi NTT, Sunday (9/09/2018).
Based on Law No.4 / 2009 concerning Mineral and Coal Mining, new mines can operate if there is a smelter.
While there was a development project from the previous governor, namely the construction of a smelter in the Bolok Industrial Area (KIB) Kupang by PT Gulf Mangan Group, a manganese company from Perth, Australia.
"Secondly, Walhi NTT asked the elected governor to open the widest public participation to monitor and get involved in the process during the mine moratorium," pleaded Wulang.
Public participation is important so that the moratorium process is not infiltrated by the interests of re-existing mining investments that damage the environment and ignore aspects of justice.

Save the Small Island
The presence of this mining will have an impact on forest destruction, seizing land, polluting the water and the coast, citizens are criminalized for defending their land and water even causing casualties.
"NTT, which is characterized by an island province with 1,192 large and small islands, is very risky to do mining development," said Yuvensius Nonga, Small Coastal and Island Division of Walhi NTT, on Sunday (9/09/2018).
In Act No.1 / 2014 concerning Management of Coastal and Small Islands, it is explained that the utilization of small islands is prioritized for conservation, education and training, research and development, aquaculture, tourism, fisheries and marine business, as well as sustainable fishing industry then organic farming and animal husbandry.
"It appears that there is no mining management on small islands," Yuvensius said.
While the Director of Wahana Tani Mandiri (WTM), Carolus Winfridus Keupung said the governor's step to cancel all mines must be supported by all elements to prevent damage to the islands including small islands in NTT.
Because, continued Winfridus, people did not understand that the islands of Timor, Flores and Sumba were in the small island category. So that the moratorium and mine closure are the right steps to save small islands. "These small islands must be protected from destruction efforts," he hoped.

Threatening Agriculture
Walhi NTT explained 309 mining permits in NTT ignored the carrying capacity of the environment. Based on BPBD analysis, there are 10-15 percent of villages in NTT experiencing a water crisis.
While the analysis of Walhi NTT is based on the control, management, utilization and consumption of water, 70 percent of the regions in NTT experience a water crisis. "There are 16 main watersheds that are threatened with sustainability due to encroachment practices in the upstream area," said Yuvensius.
Therefore, NTT province needs a brave leader and is able to create a model of development that is pro-environment and pro-people.
Some of the problems in NTT to date that have been neglected are damage to environmental carrying capacity and development failures which have caused NTT to experience a food crisis as a basic need of citizens. In a note from Bank Indonesia, NTT is the largest importer in Indonesia from the consumption sector which is 82 percent.


The mine refuse demo conducted by Walhi NTT. Photo: Walhi NTT / Mongabay Indonesia

While the WTM saw the mining cancellation and moratorium provide an opportunity for the NTT Provincial Government and the community to focus more on the agricultural sector for economic empowerment.
"Mining is not to enrich the farming community but rather to destroy the environment and the surrounding environment and make the agricultural sector not well developed," said Winfridus
Mining and agriculture are very contradictory, Wim concluded, where mining destroys the environment while the environment becomes the benchmark of an area in developing the agricultural sector.