[Unpad.ac.id, 19/04/2016] Two issues have surfaced in Maluku province, namely the potential natural gas Masela in Southwest Maluku district and gold mine in Gunung Botak Buru. These two issues required academia to contribute to the development.
Maluku Governor, Ir. Said Assagaf, said that potential for Masela natural gas and Gunung Botak gold is extraordinary. The spot is located about 1,000 miles from the border with Australia was claimed by experts as an immortal gas field. The promise of Masela block exploitation became clear after President Joko Widodo decision to build an onshore gas plant.
“With refinery built onshore, it will encourage human resources strengthening in the Masela block,” said Said during his speech in discussion of “Maluku: Potential and Challenges of Land Rehabilitation and Masela Block” in Multipurpose Room Unpad, Jalan Dipati Ukur No. 35, Bandung, Tuesday (4/19).
Discussions were held in cooperation with Universitas Padjadjaran and Maluku provincial government featuring speakers of Universitas Pattimura Rector, Prof. Dr. J.M. Saptenno, SH., M.Hum., and for Lecturer of Faculty of Agriculture, Unpad Dr. Ir. Reginawati Hindersah, M.T., with moderator of Prof. Dr. Soetyastie Soemitro Remi, S.E., M.S. Also attending the event were Rector Unpad Prof. Tri Hanggono Achmad, Regent and Head of Maluku province, leaders of Universitas Padjadjaran, professors, and Unpad academic community.
While in the Gunung Botak area, Said said location is rated storing high gold content. He said that based on results a survey by experts from universities in Indonesia, 18 million grams of gold in 6 million cubic meters of sediment is dissolved in Anahoni River. However, this potential is inversely proportional to the level of fertility in the region.
“Currently, illegal mining activities lead to many social and environmental problems. We want to explore the resources properly,” said Said.
On handling Masela block, Prof. Saptenno said Unpatti has been supported by government to be the university that contributed to site development. Human resources strengthening became one of the focuses would be done by Unpatti.
According to Prof. Sapteno, Unpatti has been encouraged to open up program of study related to the needs of natural resources in Masela, such as Geology and Energy. In addition, it also plans to build vocational program and Outside Domicile Education.
“This gas management is also developing wide range of derivatives. Therefore, in addition to the preparation of human resources in the field of mining, we will prepare human resources in fields of economics, law, and tourism, “said Prof. Saptenno.
It will also develop a series of cooperation with several universities, including Unpad. “It requires attention of many parties. If we do not prepare well, this exploitation would be the same case of those in Aceh or Freeport case in Papua,” said Prof. Saptenno.
Meanwhile in terms of environmental issues in the mining area of Gunung Botak, Dr. Hindersah found heavy damage in the region. He said gold content in the region was not classified as primary gold.
“Currently product of exploitation is more tailings (pure waste) than gold. It is illegal to mine and they are throwing indiscriminate excavation. Many heavy metals residual mining process would go to area paddies, “said Dr. Hindersah.
The lecturer has long done their research in cooperation with Moluccas, said that Bald Mountain region is now polluted with mercury and cyanide, two heavy metals that are used to extract the gold. At least, about 350 ha of land in the district Waeapo and Kaeli have suffered damage due to rush mining.
“In addition to environmental pollution, social conflict society needs to be addressed,” said Dr. Hindersah.*
Reported by Arief Maulana / eh
