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Suparni, Semen Indonesia CEO: This is measured mining

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Editor

19 October 2018 13:47 WIB

Suparni, Semen Indonesia CEO. ANTARA/Yudhi Mahatma

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Semen Indonesia insists that it will continue its mining activities at the water basin area (CAT) known as Watuputih, Rembang regency in Central Java. Last April, this state-owned company previously called Semen Gresik won its licensing court case against the environmental non-governmental organization Walhi and citizens of Rembang at the Semarang Administrative Court.

"From the studies conducted by mining experts, for the time being it (mining) will not upset anything," said Semen Indonesia CEO Suparni. Last Monday, Suparni spoke to Tempo for an interview. Suparni was accompanied by his legal counsel, M. Soffan Heri and general manager, corporate secretary, Agung Wiharto. Suparni and both his staff took turns answering questions.

During the three-hour interview, Suparni stressed repeatedly that there was no manipulation in the licensing process at Rembang. They denied charges that they intentionally failed to report the number of caves, water spring and rivers under the mining area.

Why did Semen Indonesia persist in building the factory at Rembang?

Our market share stands at 43-44 percent. In normal times, it was about 56 percent per year. We want to build a distribution center many places. The concept is where there's raw materials, there should be infrastructure or distributing facilities and a market. At Rembang, the raw material is available, there's access to the Java main highways to the north, and a harbor is possible there's a sea coast.

What's so special about Rembang?

The limestone meets the criteria and there's a big deposit there, and it's thickness is amazing and it lies about 420 meters above sea level.

You were rejected at Pati, why did you move to Rembang? Don't the two areas lie in the same mountain chain?

Pati is the natural karst landscape, the same as Blora and Grobokan, while Rembang is not. There is nothing wrong with mining limestone over there.

You think that the limestone hill at Rembang is not a karst?

It's the youngest karst, in line with the study by researcher Eko Haryono (a karst expert at Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta), the crevices are tight, sharp and rugged.

Aren't there many ponor there?

There's no ponor. Ponor will continue flowing down all year towards a spring.

Aren't they crevices that take in water?

Ponor is a source of water spring which flows continuously and disappears as it nears its end.

We found many ponor in mining areas, but they are not written in the environmental feasibility study (amdal) of Semen Indonesia?

We couldn't find any. We came to those points. The locals say they're close but they were five kilometers away.

Rembang's Spatial and Area Plan (RTRW) said the CAT Watuputih is part of a geological protected area.

No. Based on the observation of Pak Hamzah Fathoni, Rembang Regional Secretary, all that has been carried out according to RTRW No. 14/2011.

What you're saying is that mining by Semen Indonesia does not violate the RTRW?

We are sure what we are doing there is in accordance with the RTRW. The monitoring agency is the Central Java Environmental Board.

You are sure Semen Indonesias amdal is in line with the facts on the ground?

Yes, because all the important factors have been included. This is a scientific and an academic study.

A number of scientists and citizens have challenged Semen Indonesia to look at the water spring and the ponor in the mining area.

Do they have the letter? If they sent the letter and we failed to respond, that would be our fault.

The people of Gunem subdistrict claim Semen Indonesia intentionally hid their mining license.

How can we do that, after we publicized it? The permit for the location was published in newspapers and at meetings. Whether it reached everyone is another question. But many people are now aware of it. We publicized and socialized it through representatives.

There are worries this mining will reduce the supply of water.

You can consult with Pak Heru Hendrayana (hydrogeology expert from Gadjah Mada University). He's the expert and he can explain the movement of water. After the mining, that area will become a catchment place. When earth is taken, the level of catchment will increase, the surface will open and become a ponor.

There are also fears that the mining will kill native fauna.

Well, an opinion is just an opinion, but we plan to mine it according to a planned and tested method.

The license to mine No. 591/2011 stressed that the use of water areas cannot alter the landscape and ecosystem. Can this criteria be met?

This is a measured mining, that means the impact will also be measured. Essentially, the amdal has calculated all factors.

We heard that Semen Indonesia persuaded village chiefs to support mining by the offer Rp1-3 billion cash?

Not from us.

Were the kiai (religious leaders) lobbied for their their approval?

Not directly. But if a pesantren (Islamic boarding schools) organizes events, we help out. We don't give to people directly. If there's a wayang (shadow puppet) show, or a sports event, we'll facilitate it.

Semen Indonesia seems active in the community

We have an event, so we cannot be still. We pay our respects, we ask for blessings, for permission. We visit the pesantrens, local leaders. Some accept us, others don't. That's normal.

The exchanged land you gave to the Forestry Ministry is owned by whom?

At Kendal, it's owned by Sumur Pitu company. Its right to use (HGU) and legal administration is complete, company-owned. The National Land Agency papers are also complete. We hve met all legal and administrative purchase agreements and we have the documents.

Yet the citizens of Rembang still want to sue Semen Indonesia's intention to build a factory there.

The amdal has been issued. It's like having a driver's license you set out on a trip. If the license to build a house is issued, then you can build your home. That was in June 16, 2014, when we started work on it, two years since the amdal was issued.

Mining at Watuputih is feared will disrupt the activities of local farmers.

We plan to clear five hectares of land every year. Anyone can make use of it for free. When we are ready to mine, we will announce that they should not cultivate the land because in three to six months time, the land will be mined.

What about the big hole you will leave behind?

Once the mining is ended, we will replant the land again. For example, we will mine 50-10 hectares the first year. On the second year, we will move forward, covering the land that we used so that rainwater can be absorbed. It will be much better for farming.

Cement factories need much water. Where will you get it from? 

We will make a tank, a catchment area. Like in Tuban, we will not get the water from underground, we take water from the surface. We have been in Tuban for 21 years, and everything is fine there. (*)



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