Newmont pays Rp3.9t in taxes, royalty in 2009

Copper and gold miner PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara (PTNNT) has paid a total of Rp 3.9 trillion (1US$= Rp 9,380) in 2009 to the government in the form of taxes, non-taxes, and royalties, lower about 7 percent from a year earlier

?Corporate income tax (PPh 25) makes up the biggest portion of the amount, totalling Rp 3.3 trillion, followed by royalties amounting to Rp 239 billion and personal income tax (PPh 21) Rp 186 billion. The corporate income tax rate applicable to NNT under the Contract of Work is 35%,? said Arif Perdanakusumah, Senior Manager External Relations of PTNNT.

Since the start of operation to the end of 2009, PTNNT has paid a total of Rp 15.149 trillion in taxes, non-taxes and royalties, he said.

The firm operates Indonesia?s second largest copper mine Batu Hijau in West Nusa Tenggara. The mine also produces gold. The firm said earlier that mine output would drop significantly in 2011 as it would continue mining lower grade mineral ore.

The firm is owned 35.44 percent by Newmont Indonesia Limited, 27.56 percent by Nusa Tenggara Mining Corporation (an affiliate of Sumitomo Corporation); 20 percent by local company PT Pukuafu Indah, and 17 percent by PT Multi Daerah Bersaing (MDB).

PT Multi Daerah Bersaing is a joint venture controlled 75 per cent by PT Multicapital (a business subsidiary of giant coal producer PT Bumi Resources) and 25 percent by three regional administrations in West Nusa Tenggara. (godang)