The handling strategy of environmental issues in Sumbawa Regency, Indonesia: a case study of Newmont Nusa Tenggara, Ltd.’s environmental sustainability program

Abstract

This research aims to portray the strategy of Newmont Nusa Tenggara, Ltd., as a multinational corporation, in handling environmental issues caused by its operational activities Western Sumbawa regency through its Environmental Sustainability Program (ESP). This research also aims to recognize the environmental damage arisen due to the operational activities of the corporation and the strategy Newmont Nusa Tenggara, Ltd. carried out to overcome the damage through its ESP. The discussion is focused on the damage of operational activities and its handling strategy in 2012. The finding of the research shows that operational activities carried out by Newmont Nusa Tenggara, Ltd. have had an impact on the soil structure and river water contamination, which further affected social security. Its effort in handling the damage through ESP focuses on the management of tailings waste, mining water, and forest reclamation. However, the program has not been maximized since the presence of sewerage pipes leading to the river, which is the source of community life, is still found and triggered societal protests that led to conflict.