Freeport allocates $18.3 milion for community development programs in Papua
Thursday, September 4 2003 - 01:36 AM WIB
Copper and gold miner PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) has allocated US$18.3 million for this year?s community development projects in Papua, Neraca daily reported Thursday.
The $18.3 million accounts for around one percent of the company?s estimated gross income of 2003, the paper quoted PTFI vice president for community affairs Agus Kafiar as saying.
The fund is being used to improve the economic welfare of Papuans and for the development of the province?s human resources, healthcare, infrastructure and education, Agus told reporters in Jakarta Wednesday.
Agus said his company had allocated $18 million for similar programs last year, compared with $16 million in 2001.
PTFI, the unit of U.S. copper and gold miner Freeport-McMoran Copper & Gold Inc, operates a huge copper and gold mine in Papua?s Mimika regency. (*)