Indonesia, PNG to jointly develop mines in border areas

By Bambang Atmaja

Energy and Mineral Resources Jero Wacik said on Monday that miners from Indonesia and the neighboring Papua New Guinea (PNG) would jointly start minerals mining in the borders of the countries.

The agreement was made on Monday during a meeting of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and visiting PNG Prime Minister Peter O'neil at the State Palace, which was followed by the signing of the deal by mining ministers of the two countries.

Minister Jero said that border areas of the two countries are believed to contain large deposits of coal, nickel and gold. "Therefore the borders must be developed together," he said at the palace.

With the cooperation, the security of the work would be quarantined by both sides, he said.

He also said that from the Indonesian side, the exploration could be done by private companies.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak