Govt visits KEM?s ex-mine site, inspect closing process

Deputy Governor of East Kalimantan Yurnalis Ngayob and the province's other senior officials visited the ex-mining site of gold miner PT Kelian Equatorial Mining (KEM)to inspect the closing process of the mine area in the province, Kaltim Post reported on Monday.

During the visit, the deputy governor warned the gold mining company should no leave the area until all the company meet all of its obligations, including closing the mining areas and improve the skill of the former workers.

In his explanation, KEM's president Arief Siregar said besides providing a training on trade, farming, cooperatives, health, education and culture, the company through its foundation Yayasan Anum Lio (formerly known as Yayasan Rio Tinto) is also developing a protected forest in the company's former mining areas.

KEM is scheduled to close its gold mine in East Kalimantan in 2005 due to the depletion of the gold reserves in the mining site. (*)