By Ikhsan Shiddieqqv

If the report is substantiated, PT Freeport Indonesia could see its contract of work terminated.

JAKARTA - The House of Representatives (DPR) has asked the government to form an investigative team on indications of uranium mining by PT Freeport Indonesia in Papua. The individuals first bringing up the uranium mining matter should be engaged in the investigative team.

“An investigative team should be set up by the ESDM Ministry in order to confirm or scotch the report," said DPR Commission VII member Satya Yudha. He said an investigative team should be formed to prove reports of uranium mining by PT Freeport. Freeport should halt mining activities for the duration of the team’s investigation.

"If a mining operator finds a mineral not covered under its mining permit, we will consider that an illegal action,” said Satya at the DPR Building on Thursday (15/7). He said Freeport was only licensed to mine for iron ore, gold and copper. Mining other than these minerals was not permitted. If PT Freeport was mining uranium, he said, it was in serious transgression. In addition to violating the mining permit, uranium was clearly a highly controlled material.

Another councilor from PKS, Zulkieflimansyah on a national online site also called for clarification from PT Freeport and Batan. “This is a sensitive issue. Freeport and Batan need to provide joint clarification soon,” said the politician who is a research fellow at Harvard University.

He said the report received by DPR Commission VII only said a Batan survey in Papua had found radioactive anomalies in the Ransiki area. In fact proving the presence of uranium in the ore mined by PT Freeport is simple, as its properties are technically highly specific.

"We appeal to the individuals making the report to provide technical evidence. Uranium is easily detected in the field because of its radioactivity.”
PPP Faction head Hazrul Azwar said if the report was substantiated, the government should immediately cancel or revise the PT Freeport contract.

"PT Freeport Indonesia has already violated its contract. The contract does not provide for uranium mining. The permit was granted only for gold, iron ore and copper mining,” he said.

Earlier PT Freeport Indonesia Corporate Communications Manager Budiman Moerdijat had denied allegations of uranium mining. "PT Freeport Indonesia is a general mining company producing a final product that is concentrate containing copper, gold and silver metals,” said Budiman. ed sadewo

Source : REPUBLIKA, July 16, 2010