14 mining contracts to expire in 2002, 2003

As many as 14 general mining contracts will expire in 2002 and 2003 while most companies holding the concessions have now stopped carrying out mining activities and are doing exploration only, Bisnis Indonesia daily reported on Thursday.

The 14 concessionaires include gold miner East Kalimantan-based PT Kelian Equatorial Mining whose contract will expires in 2003; gold miner PT Newmont Minahasa Raya in North Sulawesi (2002); gold miner PT Bauxit Kijang in Riau (2003); and coal miner PT Kendilo in East Kalimantan (2002).

A senior official at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, S. Witoro, said they had adequate knowledge about the real condition of those firms? operations. Witoro did not elaborate.

He added his office was continuing to gather more information about other mining concession holders including gold miner PT Barisan Tropical Mining in South Sumatra; gold miner PT Ampalit Mas Perdana (Central Kalimantan); tin miner PT Timah Karimun (Riau); coal miner PTBA Ombilin (South Sumatra); coal miner PT Allied Indo Coal (West Sumatra); nickel miner U.P. Gebe (Maluku), gold miner PT Halmahera Mineral (Maluku); coal miner PT Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku (South Kalimantan); and gold miner PT Indo Muro Kencana (Central Kalimantan). (*)