Eliora, Jauwena, Koh 1

Survey Compilation:
Pemda/Sub-District
Source: Pak Suhardi, Bapak Camat, Merawak Sub-district (population: 13,000), Bangka
Regency.
Tin mining in Bangka has been around since 1704. This is a form of blessing from God.
However, the environmental conditions are worsening since the arrival of tin mining sites. The
soils nutrients have been removed in the mining process, not enabling plants to grow in that
area. Moreover, land elevation is decreased, increasing the possibility of flooding in Bangka and
Belitung.
Questions:
Me: What is the condition of Bangkas economy after the establishment of the mining sites?
Bangkas economy is very poor. There are only a few tin remaining in the area, and the price of
the tin is also lowering. Foreigners are also taking advantage of the availability of tin in Bangka.
When we import tin or tin products from other countries, we pay for twice as much as the
original price. This pose a threat to Bangkas economy. (Talking about the environment and local
people) Because of the damage to the soil, the local people are unable to farm their plantations
and do agricultural activities. In order to help, PT Timah (a tin mining company) needs to
reclaim the land by purifying the acidity of the soil.
Ryuta: Legal and illegal mining sites
Legal mining sites are mining sites that has fulfilled the standards and has been granted the
license to mine. On the other hand, illegal mining sites are those that have not meet the
requirements for mining. These illegal mining sites are quite many in Bangka. Illegal mining
prove to be a danger for the peoples health. However, as tin mining is a primary source of living
for Bangka people, there are many illegal mining sites that are legalized.
Deo: Laws of Mining Sites

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If the law of mining sites are violated, the company would have their tin confiscated and their
mining activities stopped by the government. The leader of the sub-district (Pak Camat) is
watching mining sites that frequently violates the law. Pak Camat would step into action if the
mining activity destroys the natural habitat of the area.
On the other hand, there might be other reasons why other mining sites has never run into
troubles. Their license might not have been distributed.

PT. ATD Makmur Mandiri (Local Mining Company)

Source: Pak Leo, General Affair.
Background Information:
The mining facility started in 2007.
The first Green Smelter Factory in Bangka. It doesnt produce exhaust fumes. It turns fumes into
vapor that is released into the air.
It is located in Jelitik Industrial Area in Sungai Liat, Bangka.
The activities include mining and processing tin.
Mining:

IUP: 188.45/318/TAMBEN/2011 (the law the mining activity is based on).

The company has owned mining license for years
Mining activities include:
Open area and underground mining.
Collecting minerals by means of water collection (shooting high-pressured water into the soil
and gathering minerals contained inside the water).
Operation:

Facility area: 2.5 hectares.

Located 40 km from Pangkal Balam Seaport.
Produces 600+ metric tons of tin per month.
Has 200 employers.
The factory has:

13 regular tin furnaces,

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1 electric tin furnace,

1 slag tin furnace,
5 refining stations,
1 chemical lab,
and 2 crystallizers.
Information about tin:

Polluters in tin can include iron (Fe) and lead (Pb). The crystallizers filter leads that are
contained/mixed with tin.
Tin processing:
The collected tin is heated in a furnace with the temperature of 1300 degrees Celsius. After it is
heated, it liquefies and is poured onto a specific container.
After the tin hardens, an oxygen-shooting pipe is inserted into the tin, helping the cooling
process.
Tin products include: anodes, billets, and ingots.
Questions:
Febe: The Advantages of Tin Mining:
It is the main source and the largest driver of Bangkas economy. Though there are other sources
of Bangkas economy, such as agriculture and fishery, tin mining is by far the primary source of
money.
One of the factors that makes tin a main source of money to Bangkas economy is that it is
available in large numbers.
Though there were predictions that the tin resources in Bangka would empty in the next few
years, it never happens.
However, there are also disadvantages of having tin as a primary source of economy.
The culture of the Bangka people are too focused to tin. They rarely consider other jobs other
than tin mining, and there were also many children in Bangka who dropped out of school due to
believing that although he/she graduates from education, he/she would end up being a miner.
Mining activities result in damages to the environment. After mining, the soils nutrient have
been taken out, not enabling plantations to be planted in the area.
Balqis: Health and Safety Concerns for Miners:

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The laws of mining sites have set the standards for safety precautions and the health conditions
of the miners.
There is always a safety briefing prior to the actual mining activity (before the miners travelled

underground in search for tin). The miners are to wear helmets and complete safety equipments.
Alvin: Skill in Mining
Mining skills have been practiced for generations.
Nowadays, traditional mining skills are combined and aided with modern technology.
The Chinese people of Bangka are also miners. In fact, they are the one who mine for the first

time.
There are no specific institutes that started the idea of tin mining in the first place. Tin mining is
in the blood of Bangka people since the very beginning (from their ancestors).
Me: Competency Standards
Competency standards of a mining site are supervised and determined by Dinas Pertambangan
dan Surveyor Indonesia (Agency of Mining and Survey of Indonesia).
The standards of mining sites include baths, clothes washing, toiletries, safety, food, and many
more.
AMDAL
No local people shall reside in the industrial area.
Since industrial areas are far away from local houses, there are no problems between mining sites
and the local people.
Any changes to the mining site has to have the peoples agreement.

Health Center (Puskesmas)

Source: Head Nurse.
Information about Puskesmas:
Only a basic health center.
75 beds for inpatients.
Officially announced by the emissary of Vatican City.
Questions
Ryuta: Life Expectancy
75 Years for all citizens.
There are no significant differences from the year 2010-2015.

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Febe: Diseases
Bangka is an endemic place for malaria. Swamps commonly are the breeding place for
Anopheles, a malaria-transmitting mosquito.
The government has, in some way, drastically reduce the amount of people infected with malaria.
Now, the health centers only receive 0-2 patients per month.
Dengue fever is also commonly found in Bangka. As Dengue Fever is a disease caused by
mosquitoes (specifically the Aedes Aegypti), there are also other possible mosquito-transmitted
diseases in Bangka.
The common breeding place for the Aedes Aegypti mosquito is in houses. It can also travel to
other areas of Bangka via being trapped in vehicles.
There are also causes of death that are not due to diseases. Accidents during mining activities,
such as struck down by landfall, can cause deaths.
Alvin: Diseases in Miners
A preventive action towards handling diseases in miners is through collaborating with the Health

Agency. For example, we can collaborate with them to prevent malaria.

The Health Center can support the plans of the government in reducing the infection of malaria.
The Health Center can teach preventive ways to the miners by safety briefing.
Samuel: The Impact of Tin Mining to The People Socially
The impact of tin mining is that it makes the soil in the area infertile and the trees cut down. The

amount land for agricultural purposes is reduced.

The water waste from the mining site is thrown out into the river. Supply of clean water is
reduced.
This, combined with the increasing population of the people, proves to be a trouble in the dry

season as there are many people that do not have access to clean water.
Rachel: Developmental Issues in Infants Due to Tin-Polluted Water
There are no written research regarding this topic.
However, it is clear and obvious that tin-polluted water is bad for the peoples health.
Fernandez: Changing the Way of Mining (as A Concern to Health)
Actually, mining activities are allowable. The BUMN (Badan Usaha Milik Negara or State-

Owned Enterprises) does mining activities safely and without causing major harm.
However, there are also decisions by the government that allow illegal mining sites.

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Open mining sites can be dangerous for the peoples health. After mining, the land should be
covered to prevent radiation. The land should also be reclaimed to return the nutrients to the soil
and make it fertile.
Fernandez: Decrease of Land Elevation
To prevent seawater from flooding the land, there are breakwaters placed alongside the beaches
and coasts of Bangka.
Once the land elevation has decreased, it cant return into its original level. Decrease of land

elevation cant be fixed.

Ibu Stela: Teeth Problems Caused by Tin
Bangka people are known for their bad teeth. They need to brush their teeth more often.
Deo: Diseases Caused By Dust
Diseases caused by dust have not affected the people in a major way.
Diseases such as lung cancer can be caused by high smoking rates of the Bangka people.
Dust, however, can cause Tuberculosis when inhaled (due to the bacteria in the dust).
Skin cancer can occur due to sunrays and exposure of radiation in tin mining sites.
Cancer are not to be blamed solely on dust from mining sites.

Local Tin Miner Interview

Source: Bapak Arman, tin miner.
Questions:

Health concerns
There are no effects of tin mining in health.
It is the opposite; working in mining sites cause you to sweat, which is good or your health.
Not using sandals can increase blood circulation.
Economy
The salary goes to the bosses. If they receive high salary, it is also beneficial for the workers.
Benefits and disadvantages
Beneficial for me and the other workers. We got paid.
There are many people who get a living by doing mining activities.
It is non-beneficial for the environment. The surroundings (water, soil, etc.) become polluted and

it can potentially be a concern for future generations.

Infertile soil and bald forests can be reclaimed to restore the environment into its proper
conditions.

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The government encourages the citizens to find other jobs, such as in the areas of
farming/agricultural activities and fisheries. Tin and tin mining do not last forever. Switching to
other jobs is a preemptive action in anticipating the time when tin mining is no more.
It takes time to adjust to the farming process. Usually, cultivation comes in the next 2-3 years
after planting, unlike the instantly available tin.
Safety concerns in mining
I have not experienced any accidents during mining.
Regarding accidents, people could get struck down by landslides or heavy equipment. However,
this is unlikely since the depth of the mining site is just 1-2 metres.
Availability of Health Center
There are free Health Centers in specific areas in Belitung.
Free medical checks.