Rubber Masters’ Fate in Natal’s “Land of Gold”

KOMPAS/NIKSON SINAGA

Artisanal miners dredge for gold on Thursday (14/11/2019) at a traditional gold mine on the Batang Natal River in Batang Natal district of Mandailing Natal regency, North Sumatra. The government is being urged to manage the mushrooming of traditional mines along the Batang Natal River to prevent environmental damage.

They all realize that they risk their lives by working as illegal miners, but the prospect of days without an income is more frightening to them. And so illegal gold mining along the Batang Natal River continues.

On Tuesday (12/11/2019) morning, the roar of heavy machinery marked the start of the day’s hunt for gold in mine pits along the Batang Natal River in Mandailing Natal regency, North Sumatra.

Ali BustamiNasution, 60, is among the miners. He slowly descends into a 15-meter-deep, 20-meter wide pit on the Batang Natal riverbank in Muara Soma village. He wears no protective gear, no helmet or shoes, only shorts and a torn T-shirt.

Altogether there are 10 miners in the pit. After a backhoe is used to lift big rocks out of the open pit, they start working. Some operate the suction pump, while others spray water on walls of the open pit. The suction pump draws gold-bearing gravel into box sluice, while the water is channeled to the river.

We are here from morning until evening. We get out just for a little bit to have lunch.

Other workers, including Bustami, carry rocks out of the pit.

“We are here from morning until evening. We get out just for a little bit to have lunch,” he said.

Illegal mine pits are found just about everywhere along the riverbank, including in Batang Natal, LinggaBayu and Natal districts. The majority of locals along the riverbank depend on mining for a livelihood.

On average, they obtain 7 grams of gold per day, which sells for Rp 3.92 million (US$278). Of this amount, 40 percent is paid to the owner of the heavy machinery and the fuel supplier, 30 percent is to the land owner and 30 percent is for the workers. Sometimes they get only 25 percent as they have to pay security fees. Usually, each worker get between Rp 100,000 and Rp 150,000 per day.

KOMPAS/NIKSON SINAGA

Two workers pan for gold on Tuesday (12/11/2019) at a traditional mine in Batang Natal district, Mandailing Natal regency, North Sumatra. While the mine does not use hazardous chemicals like mercury and cyanide, they need to be regulated to prevent environmental damage while providing an income for the local people.

Women also work in the mines. They dig the ground with hoes, pieces of wood or shells. “In one day, I can get 100 to 150 milligrams of gold, which isn\'t bad. I can sell it for Rp 50,000 to Rp 80,000,” said Anna Nasution, 60.

Some also take the remaining gravel in the box sluice and look for gold in it. “I can get 100 to 150 milligrams a day,” said MiahLubis, 42.Every Wednesday, gold panners are allowed to enter the open pit and take one sack of soil. If they\'re lucky, they can get half a gram of gold, which is worth Rp 280,000. Why Wednesday? “So we can shop at the market on Thursday,” Miah said.

Land of gold

Mandailing Natal is indeed a “land of gold”. Anna, for instance, almost always gets flecks of gold every time she pans for gold.

Gold mining along the Batang Natal River has been done for centuries. William Marsden in his book The History of Sumatra, published in London in 1783, praised the quality of Natal gold.

Almost all miners here are rubber farmers.

Despite the fact that small-scale mining has existed in Natal for centuries, mining had not been locals’ main source of income. The number of gold miners has skyrocketed only in the past eight years, since the price of latex plummeted from Rp 20,000 to just Rp 5,000 per kilogram. “Almost all miners here are rubber farmers,” said Bustami. His five-hectare rubber plantation is now neglected.

With an increase in environmental damage and health issues, including the birth of six babies with physical deformities in the past three years, allegedly linked to heavy metal pollution, pressure to close down illegal mines has risen.

North Sumatra Governor EdyRahmayadi has vowed to shut down all illegal mines in Mandailing Natal. However, Mandailing Natal Regent Dahlan Hasan Nasution has been unable to give any details of the plan.

KOMPAS/NIKSON SINAGA

An excavator digs a hole on Tuesday (12/11/2019) at a traditional mine in Batang Natal district, Mandailing Natal regency, North Sumatra. Although the mine does not use hazardous chemicals like mercury and cyanide, its operations erode the soil and dump slurry into the Batang Natal River. Traditional mines provide a livelihood for the local people, but need to be regulated to prevent environmental damage.

Thousands of local families depend on the mines for a livelihood. If the mines are closed and no alternative source of income is available, many worry that the social impact could be extensive.

Mandailing Natal Legislative Council speaker Erwin Efendi Lubis said that small-scale mines in the region should not be closed haphazardly. He said, however, that improvements were necessary. Besides small-scale mines, several gold-mining companies also operate in Mandailing Natal.Such circumstances would be nonexistent if rubber prices were stable. It is time for the government to work harder so that rubber tree growers like Bustami can take pride in rubber tapping. This way, they could stay far from the risk of being struck by a boulder in the land of gold.