Monday, 23rd April 2007 (1157 views)

Gold mining giant Newmont has been urged to address human rights and environmental concerns regarding its gold mining operations in Indonesia, Ghana, Peru, the US and Romania, according to reports.

The company has been urged by Oxfam America to take "a serious look at how it conducts its business", with more advice and discussion from local residents and experts needed.

Keith Slack, senior policy advisor for Oxfam America, an international relief and development organization, said: "It [Newmont] should call on experts who are completely independent of the company […] It should also seek input from affected communities themselves."

Meanwhile an Indonesian court is expected to rule this week on allegations that the company's waste has been making Indonesian villagers sick – a claim which Newmont stringently denies.

Richard Ness, the company's chief executive, is personally up for trial along with the company but says he is not guilty.

"I'm not clairvoyant," Mr Ness told Business Week. "But I'm positive there has never been any pollution and I think most people are starting to realize that."

 

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