Batu Hijau?s copper, gold sales down in 2006

U.S.-based giant miner Newmont Mining Corporation reported Thursday that total copper and gold sales from the Batu Hijau mine in West Nusa Tenggara declined by 31 percent and 65 percent, respectively, to 434,700 million pounds and 435,300 ounces in 2006.

Newmont said in its quarterly report that the decrease in gold sales was primarily due to lower average gold grades in 2006 versus the year ago quarter.

Newmont, however, expects that its 2007 equity gold and copper sales will be positively impacted by higher grades and throughput, offset by lower copper recoveries.

Newmont has 52.88 percent interest in Batu Hijau mine.

The company said its equity gold and copper sales at Batu Hijau are expected to remain stable in 2007 at between 230,000 and 250,000 ounces of gold and between 210 and 230 million pounds of copper. (Robert)

?	Q4 2006	Q4 2005	2006	2005
Tons mined (000 dry short tons)
Ore	21,101	27,533	127,255	83,761
Waste	54,670	24,452	165,904	142,077
Total	75,771	51,985	293,159	225,838
Tons milled (000 dry short tons)	12,755	11,763	47,026	50,210
Average ore grade:
Gold (oz/ton)	0.017	0.016	0.012	0.018
Copper	0.65 %	0.61 %	0.55 %	0.69 %
Average mill recovery rate:
Gold	81.2 %	80.6 %	79.5 %	80.7 %
Copper	90.7 %	85.0 %	87.3 %	86.7 %
Production
Gold ounces (000)
Consolidated	175.7	156.9	447.7	731.8
Equity	92.9	82.9	236.7	386.9
Copper pounds (millions)
Consolidated	150.5	120.8	453.7	596.0
Equity	79.6	63.9	239.9	315.1
Sales
Gold ounces (000)
Consolidated	169.1	180.9	435.3	720.5
Equity	89.4	95.7	230.2	381.0
Copper pounds (millions)
Consolidated	146.8	128.7	434.7	572.7
Equity	77.6	68.0	229.9	302.8