Newmont sees increase in copper and gold output: BRMS

PT Bumi Resources Minerals Tbk. (BRMS) said that its associated company PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara (Newmont) was expected to increase copper and gold output in 2013 once the ongoing development phase in Batu Hijau mine site completed by the end of this year.

In the first quarter of 2012, Batu Hijau mine site's copper and gold outputs decreased by 49 percent and 76 percent respectively, the company reported on Monday.

"As was expected, the income contribution from PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara (NNT) continued to drop. This is due to the lower copper and gold production rate from NNT's Batu Hijau mine site," it said.

BRMS said that it also looked forward to completing its exploration drilling works on the 2 sites within its Gorontalo Minerals copper and gold concession (Sungai Mak site and Cabang Kiri site) and 1 site within the Citra Palu Minerals gold project (Poboya site) by the end of this year.

It said that the Dairi Prima Mineral zinc and lead project was also on track to convert its current in-principle license into a full forestry 'borrow and use' exploitation permit in the near future.

Editing by Adianto P. Simamora