PT Timah to provide mining areas for local miners

Publicly listed PT Timah Indonesia, the world?s largest tin miner and refiner will hand over a portion of its mining area to local people with an aim to reduce the illegal export of tin, which surpassed the figure of 80,000 tons per year.

But all the output from this people?s mining activity must be sold to the PT Timah as the legal owner of the mines as well as patron of the people?s mining.

PT Timah president director Thobrani Alwi said his company is currently calculating how much area they can give to the people for the mining activities.

?We will provide mining areas that are not viable economically if exploited in a big way but are still promising if exploited on a small scale like the people?s mining areas. We are waiting for readiness from the miners,? Thobrani told Bisnis Indonesia

He said the people must follow the safety regulations of PT Timah at the areas and they will be supervised by the local government authorities.

To date, according to Thobrani, 50 people were killed in tin mining related accidents. These mining areas will be operated while taking care of the miners? safety and the environment.

Last month PT Timah in which the state holds a 65 percent stake cut production by 8 percent this year to reduce stockpiles. (*)