PT IMK to try finding new jobs for 500 workers

Gold mining firm PT Indo Muro Kencana (PT IMK), a subsidiary of Australia?s Aurora Gold which operates gold mines in the North Barity regency in Central Kalimantan, has said it will try to find new jobs for 500 people currently employed by the firm as the company will close down its mines this year.

?We shall reclaim land on our mining sites, and will help find new jobs for our workers. We will give them better compensation, or at least in accordance with the regulations of the manpower office,? PT IMK?s technical director Allan Payne said on Tuesday as quoted by Banjarmasin Post. He was speaking before Central Kalimantan Vice Governor Nahson Taway and other government officials.

Payne told the officials IMK?s mining and smelting activities might end in September.

He said gold reserve still left at IMK?s mining area is estimated at nearly 1.5 tons, and that the reserve will be depleted in September.

IMK is among several gold miners which will close down their mines until 2004.

The firm is a subsidiary of Australia?s Aurora Gold. (*)