The gold mining license issued to Tambang Mas Sangihe for the Sangihe Islands Regency did not obtain the authorization of the ministry of marine affairs and fisheries. The mining endangers the small island ecosystem. Is it true a presidential campaign volunteer is involved?
THE Sahendaruman Mountains is located about 15 kilometers from government offices of the Sangihe Islands Regency, North Sulawesi. Its densely forested hills act as the main water reservoir area for this island located north of the City of Manado. There are over 70 rivers whose water supply comes from these hills. “Now the region is in danger of being damaged because it has become a part of a mining concession of Tambang Mas Sangihe,” said Alfred Pontolondo, a Coordinator for Save Sangihe Island, on Friday, July 2.
Tambang Mas Sangihe (TMS) is a joint venture of Sangihe Gold Corporation which is based in Canada, and Sungai Belayan Sejati, Sangihe Prima Mineral, and Sangihe Pramata Mineral. The Sangihe Gold Corporation, a subsidiary of East Asia Mineral, holds 70 percent of the stock.
This company will likely manage a mining area on 42,000 hectares of land in Sangihe based on a working contract. It is located on the southern side of that island measuring 72,000 hectares. In other words, nearly 57 percent of the island is becoming a gold mining concession area.
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