Barrick to explore gold in Bengkulu
Wednesday, June 22 2005 - 02:10 AM WIB
Barrick, one of the world's major gold mine operators, has received the government's permit to explore gold in Seluma and Kaur regencies in Bangkulu, Bisnis Indonesia reported on Wednesday.
"The company has obtained the contract of work from the ministry of energy and mineral resources to develop a gold mine in the province," Zulkifli Abdullah, the deputy head of the province's mining office.
Zulkifli said that the seismic survey carried out by the company indicated a significant amount of gold deposits in several parts of the two regencies. "Each ton of rocks contain about 5 grams of gold," he added.
According to him, gold deposits are found in a number of areas in Bengkulu but only PT Lusang Mining has so far engaged in gold exploring activities in the province. The company has carried gold mining activities in the province since 1993. (*)