Indorayon and INDORAYON'S LAST GASP? ...but see what the company says...
"Indonesia has now eclipsed Japan and Korea as the largest producer of rayon. The rayon mills are *huge* consumers of rainforests." (http://solstice.crest.org/sustainable/greenbuilding-list-archive/9901/msg00526.html)
Government has allowed PT Inti Indorayon Utama (IIU) to resume pulp production because research proves that pulp discharge is harmless to the plant’s surroundings."IIU is allowed to operate only its pulp production facility, not its rayon production facility," Member of Commission V of the House of Representatives, Azwir Dainy Tara, said in Padang yesterday as quoted by Antara.
The press asked Tara about government’s reason to allow IIU to resume pulp production because the resumption of pulp production has created conflicting opinions in the region.
Reports revealed that there have been pressures from the NGOs on the government to review its decision in allowing IIU’s production. Medan’s Christian Student Movement (GMKI) has asked the government to close IIU’s pulp production unit. Similar pressures were also aired by students from Toba Samosir, who are grouped in Toba Samosir Students’ and Youth’s Brotherhood.
Answering these demands, Tara reiterated that the government only allowed the resumption of pulp production and not rayon production, which has to wait for the result of independent audit team.
If the result of the audit shows that there is no problem with rayon production, and that the people accept the resumption of rayon production, Tara said that the government will allow IIU to resume rayon production.
Tara said that observation by members of other Commissions of the House of Representatives revealed that pulp production does not pollute the environment, and does neither smell nor do any harm to the surrounding. This is far different from rayon production, which creates strong smell.
"Based on this consideration, the government only allows IIU to resume pulp production," Tara said.
Tara did not deny that there have been conflicting opinion on the resumption of IIU’s pulp production. However, he stressed that those who support the resumption of pulp production are more numerous as compared to those who do not agree to it.
Tara also said that the presence of IIU with around 8000 employees has benefited the people economically because the employees’ daily needs such as rice, vegetables and other food stuff are supplied by the local people.
Consequently, Tara said that the closing of IIU will negatively impact the local people’s economic activities because there will be no employees who will purchase their commodities. (The Indonesian Observer)
(http://www.indonesia-ottawa.org/DFA_RI_NEWS/Jul2000/pc-124-c.htm)
Indonesia: Environmental Market Analysis
The struggle against Indorayon in Indonesia (World Rainforest Movement)
International Rayon and Synthetic Fibres Committee (publishes a Statistical Yearbook)
Indonesian Synthetic Fiber Industry summary
USDA Indonesian Cotton Annual ("Indonesia, world's largest cotton importer...">