Martabe gold mine upbeat to meet production target

Hong Kong-listed G-Resources is optimistic to produce 43,000 ounces of gold and 334,000 ounces of silver from the company?s Martabe gold mine in Batangtoru, South Tapanuli, North Sumtara, this year despite a temporary suspension of the mining operation last month, Investor Daily reported on Friday.

Peter Albert, President Director of G-Resource said that the mine resumed operation on October 29 after being temporarily stopped following protests from the local people.

He said that company had also reactivated a gold ore processing facility which had stopped operation for at least six weeks.

The local people staged protests last month demanding the company to halt the installation of a pipeline from the company?s waste water treatment plant to a nearby river.

The people feared that the waste water would pollute the river which is used by the locals not only for washing but also for bathing and as source of their drinking water.

The installation work of the pipeline continued on Tuesday after an intensive discussion with the locals. In the discussion, the company ensured that the pipeline would channel clean water to the river, not the mining waste as the locals initially feared.

Albert said that the installation of the 2.7-kilometer pipeline was scheduled for completion in three weeks. ?But it all depends on the weather,? he said,

When the mine reaches its full operation, it has the capacity to produce 250,000 ounces of gold and between two million and three million ounces of silver a year. (*)