Police were called in to secure Southern Arc Minerals’ (TSX-V:SA) field camps in Indonesia Monday after protesters set one of the company’s drill rigs on fire.
The Vancouver-based copper-gold explorer said a group of demonstrators, believed to be local artisanal miners, arrived at its Tibu Serai drilling camp Monday to disrupt work at the company’s operations.
Security and police confronted the demonstrators, who then turned their attention to a nearby drill rig and set it on fire.
The demonstrators then travelled to another drill project to disrupt activity there, but were turned back by Southern Arc’s security personnel, the company said. No one from the company was injured during the protests.
Southern Arc officials have scheduled a meeting with village heads, sub-district chiefs, local officials and security to discuss what the company alleges are “illegal mining activities that local villagers are conducting in the region.
“The company prides itself on its engagement in the community and feels strongly that these actions were provoked by a fringe group of individuals who are participating in illegal mining activities in the region outside of our operations,” said Southern Arc CEO John Proust.
The incident comes at a time when mining companies are facing increased scrutiny for projects that opponents say could result in environmental harm or interfere with indigenous rights.
Last week, workers at Eastern Platinum’s (TSX:ELR) Crocodile River mine in South Africa sabotaged underground electrical and pumping equipment amid unrest over wage negotiations. (See “Unrest, sabotage plague Eastern Platinum’s South African mine” – BIV Business Today, May 12.)
In recent days, groups in Vancouver have also scheduled protests against Imperial Metals (TSX:III), Goldcorp (TSX:G) and First Majestic Silver (TSX:FR).
At press time, Southern Arc’s shares were down $0.03 to $1.70.
Joel McKay