Freeport resumes operation at Papua mine
Tuesday, October 14 2014 - 11:14 AM WIB
The Ministry of Energy and Mines Resources has allowed PT Freeport Indonesia, a subsidiary of PT Freeport McMorant Copper and Gold Inc., to resume operation at its open-pit mine in Papua after the government suspended it last month following an accident that killed four workers, Director General for Mineral and Coal of Energy and Mines Ministry R. Sukhyar said on Tuesday.
The ministry allowed the firm to resume operation on Monday with a condition that it had to continuously improve work safety.
?Freeport resumed operation yesterday (Monday). Certainly there are some (safety measures) that have to be improved,? he.
Eko Gunarto, head of sub-directorate of mine safety at the directorate general of mineral and coal, said Freeport had agreed to comply with the recommendation of the ministry?s mine inspector, that is the director of technical and environment of the directorate general.
?The mine inspector issued the permit to resume operation after the firm expressed guarantee over the safety of its workers,? he said.
Eko said among the recommendations given to Freeport are that the firm had to consistently carry out information campaign on safety procedure among its workers and had to conduct identification of risks and dangers.
?As a matter of fact, Freeport has already done it, but it must be undertaken periodically,? the official said.
The accident on Sept. 27 involved a unit of light operational vehicle and a unit of haul truck.
Editing by Johannes Simbolon