Sand exports to S'pore stopped

Source: The Jakarta Post - August 18, 2006
BATAM, Riau Islands

The Riau Islands regency of Karimun has stopped the operations of six sand mining companies exporting to Singapore as it is feared the mining will destroy the environment on nearby islands, an official said.

Deputy Karimun regent Aunur Rofiq said in Batam that the decision to stop the operations, as of Aug. 14, was taken after hearing that Sebaik Island in Moro district was sinking due to excessive sand mining by PT Surya Cipta Rezeki, one of the six sand mining companies in Karimun. "Due to environmental destruction and news about the sinking island, the Karimun administration has ordered the six companies to stop operations," Aunur said.

Aunur acknowledged that Karimun regency relied heavily on sand exports, which brought in an annual revenue of Rp 3 billion (US$315,789). Aunur also admitted that the sand mining licenses for the six companies were only issued last year, but the regency had not looked into their reclamation activities.

"Actually there isn't any island that is sinking, it is just that the reclamation activities have not been implemented properly. We will reevaluate the companies commitment to maintaining the environment," he said, playing down the subsidence on Sebaik Island. -- JP