Hundreds of delegates from the mining sector in Southeast Asia attended the forum.
Themed “Towards a Sustainable Investment Destination,” the ASEAN Mining Conference held in Bali on November 18-20, 2024, was opened by Deputy Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Yuliot Tanjung, President of the ASEAN Federation of Mining Association (AFMA) Rachmat Makassau, and Deputy Secretary General for the ASEAN Economic Community Satvinder Singh.
In his speech at the ASEAN Mining Conference, Vice President Director of PTAR, Ruli Tanio, emphasized the importance of the commitment of the industrial sector to transform toward sustainability.
With the adoption of green technology, responsible management, and cross-sector collaboration, mining can become a sector that is economically beneficial and has a positive impact on the environment and society.
The current discourse surrounding sustainability in mining business operations is both compelling and critically significant to implement.
On the other hand, the general public typically holds a skeptical view of mining, seeing it as fundamentally at odds with sustainability objectives.
"However, what we want to promote in the future is the aspect of sustainability that emphasizes deep collaboration with stakeholders," Tanio emphasized.
He pointed out that PTAR is currently facing several traditional challenges that other mining companies also encounter related to mining, post-mining recovery, and others.
According to Tanio, there is no magic formula to address those challenges.
"We have to mobilize all the best resources, the best engineering experts, and the best scientists to work and be excellent in the operation," he affirmed.
Tanio noted that PTAR has so far successfully transformed and transitioned from an initial production capacity of less than four million tons per year in 2012 to seven million tons annually of milled ore.
This year, PTAR also transitioned from the wet tailings methodology to dry tailings, which has lower risks.
In addition, PTAR has implemented sophisticated technologies such as ReCYN, Vertimill, and Oxygen Shear Reactor to generate the highest productivity, optimize resources, and create added value.
PTAR, based in Batang Toru, South Tapanuli, North Sumatra, demonstrates its commitment to biodiversity management by establishing the Biodiversity Advisory Panel (BAP) in 2020.
The BAP includes several scientists with expertise in habitat and fauna as well as ecosystem conservation.
“We have established a panel which consists of the leading scientists in Indonesia. This panel facilitates idea and concept sharing with scientists, biologists, and conservationists. Through this panel, you will open your mind to outsiders and different ideas, and you will gain a new perspective," he stated.
Apart from establishing the BAP, to minimize the business impact on biodiversity, PTAR undertakes various initiatives, including implementing biodiversity management procedures, minimizing land clearing through the Land Access Disruption Request (LADR) procedure, establishing in-situ conservation areas, developing nurseries and planting trees within and outside the Martabe area, and installing arboreal bridges.
Throughout the first semester of 2024, PTAR has planted 4,567 tree seedlings in the reclamation area and 8,860 tree seedlings in the original forest. Meanwhile, the total reclamation area until June 2024 reached 64.52 hectares.
Meanwhile, from the perspective of community empowerment, the company has conducted 76 community development and empowerment programs (PPM) throughout 2023, benefiting 9,407 individuals.
PPM covers various fields such as health, education, local economic development, and public infrastructure, targeting communities in 15 villages around the Martabe Gold Mine.
In the Southeast Asia scope, PTAR won first place in the ASEAN Mineral Awards (AMA) for the Mineral Processing category in 2023.
The AMA is a prestigious award bestowed on mining and mineral processing companies that have contributed to the innovation of sustainable mineral development in Southeast Asia.
Reporter: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2024
