Mercury Pollution Threatens Millions

The lives of millions of people in some parts of Indonesia are threatened by the pollution of mercury used by small-scale gold miners.

Kompas/Fransiskus Pati Herin

Illegal gold mining site on Mount Botak, Buru regency, Maluku, re-encroached since January 2017 as seen on Nov. 8. The mining location first operated in November 2011 and was then closed in November 2015 for damaging the environment, which had been caused by mercury, among other things.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – The lives of millions of people in some parts of Indonesia are threatened by the widespread pollution of mercury used by small-scale gold miners. The use of the mercury in the mining sector is continuing to grow, despite the government ban.

Association of Small-Scale Miners (APRI) secretary-general Syafei Kadarusman said the number of small-scale miners in the country continued to increase, and that most of them used mercury (hydrargyrum, Hg) to process gold ore. "The number of miners has reached two million people," Syafei said on Sunday.