Antam allocates Rp 6 billion for environmental audit

Publicly listed general mining company PT Aneka Tambang (Antam) has allocated about Rp 6 billion (US$=Rp 8,500) in fresh funds to finance the environmental audit of its six business units, Bisnis Indonesia reported Saturday.

Antam?s president Deddy Aditya Sumanagara said in Jakarta on Friday that the environmental audit would be needed to improve the company?s image in the eyes of investors. ?Although the long-term impact of the audit is not so significant, in the long-run, the audit will have a positive impact on the company?s share price,? he added.

Antam?s shares fluctuated between Rp 750 to Rp 1,025 in the firsts semester of this year.

The audit would be also contribute a positive impact on the production of the company?s mineral resources, he said, adding that he hoped the planned environmental audit would help the company increase its production.

This year, the company is expected to produce 4.2 tons of gold and 10,300 tons of ferronickel.(*)