This inspires Prof. Dr. Ir. Rudy Sayoga Gautama from ITB’s Mining Engineering Research Group of Faculty of Mining and Petroleum Engineering (FTTM), in conducting researches on acid mine drainage management in Indonesia.

Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) or Acid Rock Drainage (ARD) is the acidic water from mining or excavating activity and formed as the result of oxidation of sulfide mineral with the presence water.

The liquid have detrimental impact to environment, including to water biota. If the liquid flow into river, the river will be contaminated and will continue to flow downstream. The liquid also dissolves metals. If the liquid contains high concentration of metal and is consumed, it will cause disease to human body.

Prof. Rudy’s concern towards Acid Mine Drainage began in 1990 when accumulation of AMD was identified in an ex-mining pit in Bukit Asam coal mine in South Sumatera. Departing from that issue, he made a paper which was presented at International Mine Water Association Congress in Nottingham, England in 1994. According to him, during 1970-1980, no attention was given to the issue of AMD around mining areas, and related regulation did not exist.

“Fortunately, the Indonesian government received support from USA for training of mining supervisors. The (AMD) issue was then introduced in the late 80s and became an attention in Indonesia. When I go back from my doctoral study in 1989, I see in the real situation that problems occurred, and that time a case happened in Bukit Asam. I brought that case on a paper that I presented in England in 1994. That was the beginning of my engagement in AMD,” Prof. Rudy said.

From 1994 until today, he remains focused on studying AMD. In 1996, he held the first seminar on AMD in Indonesia. The mission is to introduce the issue of AMD to mining companies in order to create awareness. He also participated in the Technical Team for Standardization of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources in the field of environment which engages in the preparation of various national standard (SNI) relating to AMD. The standard created is testing standard because procedure should be standardized, as well as standardization of mining management.

Management of AMD takes several steps, beginning with identification of rock characteristics since some rocks contain acid. The problem with AMD requires solution from the upstream source by conducting well mine planning that takes possible impacts into account. Poor management will prolong AMD problem, even longer than the mining operation period. “This problem can stays longer than the mining operation period that it becomes the attention of big countries such as USA, Canada, and Japan because they face unending AMD problems even though their mines have been long shut,” he said.

According to him, the government has to ensure well treatment of AMD problems caused by mining companies because the government will be held responsible when AMD problems continue to happens while the companies that hold mining license has finished their activity on the affected mining area.

Prof. Rudy demonstrates his dedication towards AMD issues in many ways. Besides organizing five seminars on AMD (ended in 2014), he also wrote a book titled “Pembentukan, Pengendalian dan Pengelolaan Air Asam Tambang” published in 2014. His involvement on the issues has reached international stage. Together with his colleagues at UGM, IPB, and Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Prof. Rudy established Indonesian Network on Acid Drainage (INAD) which is incorporated under Global Alliance with institutions from various countries that engage in AMD issues and multinational mining companies that are facing or concerned with the same problem.

Thanks to his contribution, AMD management in many mining companies is getting better. One of those contributions is preparation of AMD management in PT Bukit Asam that gets certified ‘Proper’ from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry for four times in a row. That is the highest award for environmental management. This September, he will deliver a presentation in South Africa concerning AMD case in coal mine in Bukit Asam.

Reporter: Diah Rachmawati