Illegal Gold Mines Encircle Ciletuh

Illegal gold mining activity is widespread in the Ciletuh–Palabuhanratu Geopark in West Java. Gold is extracted with hazardous materials, and their waste is randomly discarded.

KOMPAS/IRENE SARWINDANINGRUM

Suasana di dalam salah satu lubang tambang emas ilegal di Hutan Pasir Piring yang berstatus kawasan Perhutani di Kecamatan Simpenan, Kabupaten Sukabumi, Rabu (2/9/2020). Lubang membuka lorong sempit yang hanya berukuran tinggi sekitar satu meter dan lebar tak lebih dari 50 sentimeter dengan panjang hingga ratusan meter ke kedalaman sekitar 60 meter.

SUKABUMI, KOMPAS – The Ciletuh–Palabuhanratu Geopark in Sukabumi regency, West Java, is surrounded by illegal gold mines. A Kompas investigation has found that mined rock containing gold is processed using mercury and cyanide in residents’ homes.

The gold ore processed by residents is derived from unlicensed mines through underground mining. The narrow pits are generally located on the land of state forestry corporation Perhutani, estate companies or individuals surrounding the Ciletuh–Palabuhanratu Geopark.