Jakarta (Greeners) – Ministry of Environment and Forestry targets to finalize Minamata Convention ratification before its international conference to be held next September, said Minister Siti Nurbaya, in Jakarta, on Thursday (22/6).
Minister Siti underlined Indonesia’s commitment to ratify the Minamata Convention on Mercury as part of government’s responsibility to protect its citizens and the future on the danger of the substance.
READ ALSO: 7 Presidential Instructions on Mercury Use in Small Mining
The issue had also been brought up by President Joko Widodo who had instructed to eradicate mercury use on artisanal mining recently on presidential meeting.
“President warned not to let this goes on especially Indonesia is one of the country signing Minamata Convention. President instructed to take necessary steps to prevent disasters caused by mercury pollution,” said Minister Siti. “First, review artisanal and small scale mining management, inside and outside forest areas. Then, stop and ban the use of mercury in mining.”
Indonesia had signed the convention in Kumamoto, Japan, on October 10, 2013.
On illegal artisanal and small scale mining, she said, should be regulated and provided alternative livelihood. Social forestry program in the ministry, she added, would be part of the solution. Government has allocated 12.7 million hectares of lands to be managed by people.
READ ALSO: Indonesia To Draw Up Academic Document for Minamata Convention Ratification
Minamata Convention regulates trade, product and process of small scale mining, mercury waste management, funding and technology transfer. The Convention will entry into force on August 16, 2017 with 58 countries ratify the Convention, up to date.
Mercury is substance found in the air and other materials, however, the largest source or 37 percent comes from gold small scale mining and illegal.
Reports by Danny Kosasih
21 Apr 2024 
