Indo Muro says operation not affected by new illegal miners

Gold mining company PT Indomuro Kencana, a subsidiary of Australia based Aurora Gold, said on Tuesday that some illegal miners had returned to its mining site in North Barito regency, Central Kalimantan, but it said their presence did not affect its operation.

" It is only a small number of people, probably local people, who are just picking up bits and pieces from the waste stockpiles," Aurora's chief of operating officer in Indonesia Joe Ariti told Petromindo.com in an interview.

Earlier, Banjarmasin Post daily reported that dozens of illegal miners had returned to Indo Muro's gold mine in Murung Raya area of Barito.

The paper also said the illegal miners came to the location at night to steal stones containing gold.

Ariti estimated the number was much lower than last year, when up to 1,200 illegal miners invaded the company's mining site.

He said thus far, the presence of the new illegal miners did not affect the company's operation but they "constantly testing the envelope".

Ariti further said the problem of small number illegal miners operating in contract areas is common in Indonesia (alex)