West Sumbawa, 8 August 2024 - As one of Indonesia’s largest copper-and-gold mining companies, PT Amman Mineral Nusa Tenggara (AMMAN) is committed to responsible mining practices and sustainable economic principles.
A key initiative is the reclamation program conducted in the former mining areas of the Batu Hijau mine on the island of West Sumbawa in eastern Indonesia. This reclamation program aims to rehabilitate and enhance the quality of the environment and ecosystem around the mining site, restoring the natural functions of the area.
AMMAN Senior Manager of Corporate Communications Dinar Puja Ginanjar explained that the company conducts reclamation activities concurrently with mining operations. Each year, AMMAN draws up a detailed reclamation plan for designated areas based on expert recommendations. The reclamation program adheres to the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) regulations and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM).
From operations at Batu Hijau until the end of 2023, AMMAN has reclaimed 718 hectares of the 3,291 hectares designated for mining. The company has planted 1.53 million trees of 99 species, most native to West Sumbawa.
“The success of AMMAN’s reclamation program stems from our data-based approach. This program aims to restore the original forest’s role in the ecosystem by stabilizing slopes to facilitate water management and reintroducing endemic flora and fauna species,” Dinar stated.
AMMAN employs scientific-based indicators to assess progress. “We utilize the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) to identify suitable plant species for reclamation. Through NDVI analysis, we have obtained values of +1, indicating that we have transformed the former mining area into natural forest or green oasis,” he added.
Independent monitoring also indicates that the composition and structure of trees in the reclaimed area generally exceed those of natural forests, with a tree density exceeding 625 trees per hectare.
This is clearly evident on a hill adjacent to the Batu Hijau mine. Following reclamation, the hill is now covered with endemic flora such as binong, merbau, kayu batu, dao, sugar palm, and rattan.
Ongoing monitoring of birds, bats, and wildlife using camera traps in the reclaimed area verifies the increasing biodiversity in these new forests. Species such as the Bondol Eagle frequently soar above the forest.
“These initiatives reflect our corporate vision to create a legacy of best for communities and the environment. We believe that what we are doing today will not only benefit the communities surrounding the mine but also the West Sumbawa region as a whole, particularly in our commitment to preserving forests and maintaining the balance of natural ecosystems.” Dinar concluded.
