Antam books Rp 1.56 T in 2000 sales revenue

Publicly listed state-owned mining company PT Aneka Tambang Tbk. (Antam) today announced to have booked sales revenue of Rp. 456 billion (US$ = 9,400) in forth quarter of 2000 (4Q00), bringing the sales revenue to Rp 1.56 trillion for the year. The figure, said the company reflected a significant increase compared to 1999 fourth quarter sales of Rp 373 billion and total sales revenue of Rp. 966 billion.

In the report made available to Petromindo.com, Antam said production volume of ferronickel during 4Q00 was 2,631 tonnes, which was 8 percent lower than the same quarter of 1999. Total production of 2000 stood at 10,111 tonnes, exceeding the target by 1 percent.

Production of high-grade nickel ore from Pomalaa, Gebe and Gee in 4Q00 was 14 percent lower compared to 4Q99 production of 702,000 tonnes. However, overall production for 2000 was at the same level with 1999's production at 2,1 million tones.

Production of low-grade nickel decreased from 3.2 million tones in 1999 to 3 million tones in 2000.

The report further said the total sales volume of high-grade nickel in 4Q00 was 21percent higher and helped propel the year total to 1.2M wmt or 5 percent higher than target. Low-grade nickel sales decreased by 35percent compared with 3Q00, which contributed to the sales of 799,417 wmt for all of 2000 achieving only about three quarters of the target.

Gold production decreased by 14 percent in 4Q00 and was 19 percent below the same quarter last year, but achieved the quarterly target.

This occurred as the mine reduced production to allow for repairs and maintenance in light of total gold production of 4021kg exceeding the target for 2000 by 11percent.

Accordingly, silver production decreased during 4Q00, while total production of 27,650kg beat the year target by 22 percent.

The production of gold and silver for 2000 increased due to a higher grade and throughput, which were 14gram per ton (gpt) (Au) and 178gpt (Ag) and throughput of 364,038 wmt. (alex)