Newcrest's resumes N. Maluku gold mining operations

PT Nusa Halhmahera Minerals (NHM), which is controlled by Australia's Newcrest Mining Ltd, has resumed its gold mining operation in North Maluku as local residents ended blockade, according to a government official.

"The blockade has stopped. Production has been resumed," Director of Mineral and Coal Resources at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources MS Marpaung told Petromindo.Com on Saturday.

Marpaung admitted that some of the local residents were not satisified with the community development porgrams conducted by the firm.

NHM was forced on Friday to stop its operation after over a hundred of protesters closed the access roads to the company's area in Halmahera island, Antara news agency reported.

They demanded the company carry out community development in line with their own plans, and hire local people, the news agency said.

Protesters also surrounded NHM's port in Tanjung Baranabas nearby preventing the company's workers to carry out shipment activities.

Australian mining firm Newcrest Mining Ltd Newcrest holds 82.5 percent equity in NHM, which runs the gold mine, while state miner PT Aneka Tambang Tbk, holds the remaining 17.5 percent. (godang)