November 7: A string of mid-tier Australian mining companies have run into serious problems with local protests in Indonesia recently, prompting some executives to say the resource-rich nation is losing its lustre.
As the Australian government’s Asian century white paper urges business to get familiar with Asia, companies are confronting sometimes wild protests and heavy-handed police action, with little hope of relief through the courts.
In the past 12 months, Arc Exploration, Hillgrove Resources, Sihayo Gold, G-Resources and gas company Triangle Pase have run into serious difficulties with local protests.
Last week, protests erupted against Hong Kong-listed and Australian-run G-Resources, which is attempting to build a ”clean-water pipeline” at its Martabe mine in northern Sumatra. Protests that began over fears of discharging water into the local river turned angry at police action during the protest, and two district offices and a police station were damaged, three government cars burned and a number of people injured. Continue reading “Indonesia: protests against Australian mining companies”
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