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Luwu villagers demand halt to power firm's mining activities
Villagers in South Sulawesi's Luwu regency have called for hydropower company Tiara Tirta Energi to close its Class C mine operations over unclear land documents, as recommended by regional authorities.
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Search and rescue personnel look for survivors of a landslide on Feb. 26, 2024, in Bassesangtempe district, Luwu regency, South Sulawesi. (Kompas.com/Basarnas Makassar)
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outh Sulawesi residents of Lange and Bolu villages in Bassesangtempe district, Luwu regency, are demanding that PT Tiara Tirta Energi stop local mining activities as recommended by the Luwu Legislative Council (DPRD).
Yotan Matande, a former Lange village head, said tension had risen between villagers and the hydroelectric power company over the past few days, describing how they were attacked by the company’s employees after submitting a recommendation letter from the regional council on the morning of April 17.
“We were chased and ended up entering the [company’s] Class C mining area,” Yotan said on Sunday, as quoted by Kompas.com. “There, we were beaten. We didn’t fight back, but there was a heated argument.”
Yotan said the energy firm had been operating mining activities by a local river for around six months, whereas it had previously managed only the operations of its hydroelectric power plant.
He added that the mining activities had significant impacts that affected villages in other districts.
Indonesian regulations categorize mining activities into three classes. Class A is for strategic materials used in national defense and security and the economy, and include metals such as nickel, cobalt and tin as well as hydrocarbons such as oil, natural gas and coal.
Class B is for vital materials used in guaranteeing public livelihoods and include zinc, iron, gold, silver, copper and diamonds. Class C is for all other materials and are typically used in the construction sector and subject to local regulations.
