Monday, October 22, 2007

MPI support PT MSM Investment In North Sulawesi

Manado, MPI): MORE importantly it typifies the misleading rhetoric which is occasionally printed about the PT. MSM Toka Tindung Gold Project. Unfortunately it is clear that such emotive statements are commonly made by individuals without clear intention, moreover their own apparent agendas.
The Toka Tindung Gold Project AMDAL is an issue which is in the hands of government authorities, where it belongs. There has been no special treatment of PT. MSM and in fact the company has patiently endured months of delays at great financial cost in respect of due process.
The revised AMDAL is the product of input from many expert parties and stakeholders and has been subject to scrutiny well beyond what is required under the relevant laws, guidelines and regulations of the Republic of Indonesia.
Furthermore the AMDAL and the Company’s operational procedures have been subject to extreme scrutiny by independent experts for banks and funding parties to ensure the project complies with Equator Principles. This is in itself positive as PT MSM is endeavoring to operate to the highest standards and demonstrate continuous improvement to stakeholders.
The statement that “the majority of the population around the mine living in Batuputih, Rinondoran, Pulisan and Kalinaun reject the project development”, demonstrates the author to the Jakarta Post article has a lack of familiarity with such communities.
There are in fact 11 communities within the immediate area, all of equal importance and all with aspirations for improvement to their livelihoods and community. Similarly the project provides benefits to the broader community of Minahasa Utara, in which PT MSM has been active for nearly 20 years and already contributed in excess of $US100million in good faith towards the goal of developing a safe and beneficial business in the region. The project will contribute much greater benefits in the years ahead.
There is in fact broad support of 75-80% of the community people and independent studies to prove this is the case. The rejection by minority parties, including some NGO's, does not represent the position of the whole community. Therefore, the community have expressed their rejection to such LSM’s and individuals in petitions and letters to government, as they want livelihoods and a relationship with a safely operated company, not individuals who talk a lot and deliver little tangible benefits to their communities.
The footprint of the Toka Tindung Gold Project is small and open pits affect only several hectares of land which has been legitimately purchased and which is not actively farmed.
The company will partially back fill pits where possible and also develop wetlands and permanent water sources for farming once the operation is complete/rehabilitated. In fact the Company already has contributed to progressive rehabilitation and planting of native trees via community teams which obviously provides employment.
Fish have already been established in company dams which discharge to streams and hence increase stocks of fresh water fish for the communities to catch. Efforts of rehabilitation will regenerate areas without existing trees that have been cleared for farming and this is happening before the company even starts production.
The company has acquired in excess of 17,000 coconut trees via land acquisitions. Such plantations are now farmed under contract by the local communities and given the recent Kopra price, this is providing a direct and well managed income stream to communities.
The mine will have very little rock (<8%) which contains and acid producing effect and this will either be put under water as back fill in pits where it came from and or sealed in waste dumps, prior to these waste dumps being rehabilitated and covered in sustainable farming and forest.
The concentrations of heavy metals at the project are very low, not toxic and hence it is a rather unique gold deposit which has already been eroding into streams for centuries.
The environmental effects of the project were considered during the AMDAL evaluation and it is clear that the operation does not threaten local coastal communities as implied in the Jakarta Post article.
The company actually supports local fishing businesses and purchases hundreds of kilograms in fish weekly from local fisherman, which PT MSM employees consume. Surely this is an example not only of the project benefits but of beneficial mulitplier effects that can be expected via support of sustainable business projects.
Furthermore as part of the ongoing obligations for the Company to be a good corporate citizen and a contributor to the regions development, environmental programs are being supported in national parks and marine conservation reserves located within the region.
Such programs include establishing education facilities for local children on the environment and support for eco-tourism. The company has also previously stated it’s intent to provide funding to environmental programs linked to the World Ocean Conference, if it occurs in Manado.
Thus, let us come and join in by providing direct and tangible contributions to the community in Minahasa Utara and not just provide words of negativity that do nothing to improve peoples livelihoods and or the environment.

Sunday, October 21, 2007

MPI ( Investment Society Indonesia)

Jakarta,
MPI ( Invesment Society Indonesia) was founded by Mr. Lasut in 2006. The aim of the organisation is to promote and to create an condusive enviroment for investment in Indonesia. MPI is currently focusing in assisting and promoting international invesment for North Sulawesi