Gold mining exploration underway in C. Java

PT Harlan Bekti Corporation Jakarta has been exploring for gold in three districts in Central Java, namely in Banyumas, Brebes and Cilacap, according to the head of the Central Java's mining office, Ir. Anton Adi Wahyono.

Anto noted that Harlan Bekti was given a one-year period, from Sept. 30, 1999 to Sept. 29, 2000, to explore gold potentials in the three districts, covering a total area of 29,620 hectares. Most of the exploration concession for Harlan Bekti is in Banyumas, covering an area of 18,339 hectares, then in Cilacap 6,240 hectares and Brebes 5,017 hectares.

The exploration base for Harlan Bekti is in Gancang village, Gumelar sub-district in Banyumas. The company is undergoing an exploration at a 6-hectare area in Gancang. The company has found gold ores in Gancang.

If the company decides to mine gold in its current concession areas, the distribution of income would be governed by the new regional autonomy law, that is 80 percent of the government portion income would be given to local administrations, of which 16 percent for provincial government, 32 percent for district which produces gold, and another 32 percent for other districts in the province. (*)