Freeport Indonesia's tax, royalty payment reaches $176 million in 2002

Copper and gold miner PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) said Friday it had contributed US$176 million to Indonesia?s state revenue in 2002, mainly in the form of tax and royalty.

The $176 million was part of the $2 billion received by the government from PTFI in the same payment form since 1996, said Siddharta Moersjid, PTFI?s senior manager for communications in his letter printed in Kompas daily.

In addition to the $176 million, Siddharta said his company had in 2002 allocated nearly $90 million for community development and environmental protection projects in Papua.

Meanwhile, PTFI had since 1992 spent around $200 million on social development projects in the province, Siddharta added.

Siddharta was commenting on Kompas? special reports on state assets, which touched on PTFI?s operation in Papua province. He ruled out the paper?s allegations that PTFI had not been open to the public.

PTFI, the Indonesian unit of New Orleans-based world mining giant Freeport-McMoRan Coppers & Gold Inc., operates the vast Grasberg copper and gold mine in Papua. (leo)