Mataram asked to closely monitor Newmont operation
Friday, April 14 2000 - 04:00 AM WIB
The Commission V of the House of Representatives has asked the local government in Mataram to closely monitor Newmont Nusa Tenggara's gold mine project in Batu Hijau, West Nusa Tenggara, another gold mine controlled by the Denver-based Newmont Corporation, Tempo Interactif reported on Friday.
The vice chairman of the House Commission Darul Siksa said on Thursday that the monitoring priority should be carried out the shipment of the company's gold concentrate at the local port to ensure that the company would not manipulate the export documents.
"Customs office and the local surveyor Sucofindo should tighten their monitoring at the port" he said after leading the commission's inspection team in the province.
He also asked the local government to closely monitor the company's obligation to carry out a community development program. "The community development is not only related to the construction of the road. It also includes education and the transfer of technology," he added.
The team, which also inspected Newmont mine operation in Batu Hijau, suspected that the mine company was not really serious in its community development program. "The company said it had allocated Rp 35 billion to finance its community development program but it refused to unveils details of the program," Adi Putra Tahir, another member of the commission.
PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara is owned 35 percent by Newmont Corporation of the United States, 45 percent by Sumitomo of Japan, by local partner PT Pukuafu Indah. Newmont also controls Newmont Minahasa Raya in North Sulawesi. (*)