Newmont Minahasa halts mining activities
Monday, June 19 2000 - 03:45 AM WIB
PT Newmont Minahasa Raya said that it had stopped mining operation on its Miesel gold mine in Mnahasa regency, North Sulawesi on Saturday and Sunday after former owners of the mining site entered the mining site and demanded the company to pay additional compensation for their land.
"We decided to stop all mining activities for the safety of the workers in the mining site," Paul Lahti, the general manager of the mining company said in a press statement.
He said that former owners of the mining site had demanded for additional payment for the compensation of the land taken over the American gold mining operator several years ago. But the company's press statement did not mention why they asked for the additional compensation payment,
"We regret the incident but we are happy now because they have agreed to talk over their demand," Paul said.
He said that although the company felt it had followed the all the procedures in the takeover of the land from the residents some time ago, it was ready to listen to their demand.
Miesel gold mine is part of the company's massive Rototok mine concession in the province. The company also operates a large mining site in Batuhijau, West Nusatenggara (NTB) province, which began its commercial production early this year. (*)