PRESS RELEASE: PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara (PTNNT) temporarily shuts down operations

West Sumbawa, 6/2 (NNT) - PTNNT's General Manager, Phil Brumit, stated that as of 19:45 on 5 February 2004 mine and process operations at PTNNT's Batu Hijau mine have been temporarily shut down due to on-going labour action. The basis for this labour action is a demand to pay for more of the hours worked at overtime rates. The demand is retroactive to the commencement of operations in 1999.

The Batu Hijau mine operates on a compressed work schedule comprising four days of twelve hour shifts followed by four days of rest. For compressed work schedules the hours paid at overtime rates are established by the Ministry of Manpower in consultation with employee representatives and employers and are specified in Deviation Permits. Batu Hijau's Deviation Permit was originally issued in 1999 by the Ministry of Manpower and has been renewed on an annual basis. PTNNT pays its employees in accordance with these permits.

Management of PTNNT is working with the workers, their union representatives and the Ministry of Manpower to get all employees back to work and then resolve the issue.***

For further information, please contact:
Kasan Mulyono
Manager Public Relations
Tel (370) 636318 extension # 46468
Mobile 0812-375-2482
Fax (370) 636318 extension # 46049
Email: kmulyono@corp.newmont.com