PT FreePort's mining “tailings” waste destroys environment

Papua's Gold Rush Creates Environmental Devastation

TIMIKA, PAPUA, INDONESIA - FEBRUARY 02: A view of dead trees affected by gold mine waste, known as tailings on February 2, 2017 in Timika, Papua Province, Indonesia. Credit: Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images

Since 1967 PT Freeport has been mining copper and gold in Mimika, West Papua and dumping its tailings waste in several rivers in the Mimika Regency area.


For decades the trailing waste was dumped into rivers and estuaries to the sea and polluted the environment causing the death of the fish and also the surrounding plants.

Adolfina Kuum, General Coordinator of the Community of Environmental Care (LEPEMAWI), Timika, in Papua, told how the tailings waste was damaging their environment, and how the community's efforts to hold PT Freeport accountable
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