N. Sulawesi's regency promises optimum support to mining investors

Minahasa regency administration in North Sulawesi has promised to do its best to facilitate investors wishing to exploit mining resources in the area, Antara news agency reported.

"We will provide them with various facilities," regency mining office head SJ Sumarauw was quoted as saying over the weekend.

Sumarauw said Minahasa has big mineral deposits including gold, kaolin and manganese. The regency has at least 6.3 million tons of gold deposits, he said.

US copper and gold miner Newmont Corporation has gold mining operations in Minahasa, but it had planned to close entire mining operations in the area due to gold reserve depletion. (*)