Newmont offers assistance to establish conservation area in Sumbawa

PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara (PTNNT), a unit of US gold miner Newmont Mining Corp, which operates large copper and gold mine in Batu Hijau, West Nusa Tenggara said it had offered assistance to the local and regional governments to create a conservation area close to Batu Hijau approximately 14000 hectares in size.

On 2 October 2003, PTNNT wrote to the regent of Sumbawa to offer assistance for the establishment of a conservation area in Sumbawa. ?It is our understanding that the Regency, Provincial and National Governments want to establish a conservation area on the western end of Sumbawa. We support the establishment of the Tatar Sepang Conservation Area and would like to provide appropriate assistance,? said Robert Humberson, PTNNT president.

?Unfortunately there has been some misleading information regarding PTNNT objectives. I am confident this was not done intentionally but due to incomplete information. PTNNT is not trying to buy the conservation area; in fact, NNT wants to assist the government to establish a larger conservation area than that currently planned. PTNNT is prepared to relinquish parts of NNT?s current non-prospective Contract of Work area to be used as a conservation area. ,? Robert Humberson concluded.(alex)