Banpu sets aside Rp 6 billion for Community Development

PT Banpu Indominco Mandiri, one of coal producers in East Kalimantan, will set aside up to about Rp 6 billion to finance the company's community development projects, Kaltim Pos reported Wednesday.

Banpu's manager for external relations M. Nasution said in Samarinda on Tuesday that the community development funding was discussed during the company's working meeting in Jakarta recently.

As part of the results of the meeting, the company agreed to set aside eight U.S cent from every tons of the coal it produces for community development funds, he said. "With a production target of 8.3 million tons this year, the community development funds are expected to reach about Rp 6 billion, an increase of about Rp 300 million from those allocated for 2005," he added.

He said that the community development funds would be mainly used to support the community developments in 10 villages near the company's mining locations in Bontang, Kutai Kartanegara and Kutai Timur. (*)