Batang Toru, January 21, 2025 – PT Agincourt Resources, the operator of the Martabe Gold Mine, ensures that the management of mine process wastewater is carried out responsibly and safely for the Batang Toru River ecosystem. According to results from accredited laboratory tests, the quality of the mine process wastewater as of December 2024 complies with government-mandated quality standards.
The wastewater samples taken on December 17, 2024, indicated that 11 wastewater quality parameters were below the thresholds set by the Minister of Environment Decree No. 202 of 2004 on Wastewater Quality Standards for Gold and Copper Mining Activities. PT Agincourt Resources (PTAR) has consistently managed wastewater quality to comply with these standards since 2013.
General Manager & Deputy Director of Operations of PT Agincourt Resources, Rahmat Lubis, stated that the company manages process wastewater at the Water Treatment Plant located within the Martabe site using advanced technology specifically designed to ensure that water released into the environment remains safe for the ecosystem. The sustainability of Batang Toru ecosystem, known as one of the areas with extraordinary biodiversity, has always been the company’s top priority in conducting its mining activities.
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“We believe that responsible mining activities are compatible with environmental preservation. Therefore, we continue to innovate to manage mining process wastewater and ensure that the Batang Toru ecosystem is not negatively impacted,” he stated.
Every month, the Integrated Team for Wastewater Quality Monitoring of PTAR, along with PTAR’s Environmental Department, monitors the quality of process wastewater from the Martabe Gold Mine by collecting water samples from eight discharge points. The samples are then sent to an independent laboratory, PT Intertek Utama Services, for analysis. The results of the water quality evaluation are subsequently shared with the communities around the mining area.
Based on the results of process wastewater sample testing conducted in December 2024, PTAR socialized the findings to the community on January 17, 2025, in Marancar District, South Tapanuli, North Sumatra. The dissemination began with the unsealing of the laboratory test result documents, carried out by expert representatives from North Sumatra Province, namely Ir. M. Eka Onwardana, MT., and Drs. Chairuddin, MSc.
The test data revealed the following results: water acidity levels (pH) ranged from 7.11 to 7.18 (quality standard range: 6.0–9.0), Total Suspended Solids (TSS) ranged from 3 to 4 mg/L (maximum quality standard: 200 mg/L), Free Cyanide ranged from 0.005 to 0.007 mg/L (maximum quality standard: 0.5 mg/L), Arsenic (As) ranged from 0.0012 to 0.0015 mg/L (maximum quality standard: 0.5 mg/L), Cadmium (Cd) ranged from 0.0090 to 0.0098 mg/L (maximum quality standard: 0.1 mg/L), and Chromium (Cr) levels were less than 0.001 mg/L (maximum quality standard: 1 mg/L).
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Additionally, Copper (Cu) levels ranged from 0.020 to 0.022 mg/L (maximum quality standard: 2 mg/L), Lead (Pb) was less than 0.001 mg/L (maximum quality standard: 1 mg/L), Mercury (Hg) was less than 0.00005 mg/L (maximum quality standard: 0.005 mg/L), Nickel (Ni) ranged from 0.075 to 0.076 mg/L (maximum quality standard: 0.5 mg/L), and Zinc (Zn) ranged from 0.058 to 0.064 mg/L (maximum quality standard: 5 mg/L).
“Twice a year, we hold biannual dissemination and announcement of laboratory results for the Martabe Gold Mine’s process wastewater to demonstrate our commitment to transparency. This activity also serves as an educational platform for the community, highlighting our consistent efforts to uphold high environmental management standards,” said Rahmat.
Agincourt Resources’ commitment to managing process wastewater has been appreciated by the Regional Secretary (Sekda) of the South Tapanuli Regency Government, Sofyan Adil Siregar, who also serves as the Chair of the Integrated Team for Monitoring the Process Wastewater Quality of the Martabe Gold Mine.
“We appreciate the support of the communities surrounding the mine that have actively participated in this dissemination activity, which is held every six months. We hope that the Integrated Team, comprising the North Sumatra Provincial Government, South Tapanuli Regency Government, representatives from 15 villages around the mine, and experts, can continue to collaborate to improve the well-being of South Tapanuli,” said Sofyan.
The Integrated Team for Monitoring the Process Wastewater Quality of the Martabe Gold Mine was established in 2013. Currently, the team operates under the Decree of the Regent of South Tapanuli No. 188.45/582/KPTS/2024, which governs the monitoring of wastewater quality discharged into the Batangtoru River for the 2024–2028 period. The team comprises representatives from the local government, university experts, PTAR employees, and community representatives from villages surrounding the mine. Its members are rotated every four years via updates to the Regent’s Decree.
