PTFI reports on DOZ incident

(1 June 2013) -- PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) today extended its heartfelt condolences to the family of truck operator Herman Wahid who passed away today at 6:29pm Eastern Indonesia Time after an accident while he was performing approved maintenance activities in the deep ore zone (DOZ) underground mine yesterday.

The accident occurred at about 1:30pm (Eastern Indonesia Time) when wet ore material (wet muck) flowed from an ore bin covering the truck operated by Herman. He was rushed to Tembagapura Hospital where doctors fought to save his life. Herman is survived by a wife and three children and has been working at PTFI for 9 years. Arrangements are being made to return his remains to South Sulawesi.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with Herman's family and close ones," said PTFI President Director Rozik B. Soetjipto. "We will do all we can to help his family get through the loss of their husband and father."

Rozik added that PTFI has begun investigating the cause of incident because the circumstances surrounding it were inconsistent with PTFI's established safety protocol for handling wet muck.

Today's incident was not the result of any mine tunnel collapse at Big Gossan which is about 2 km away, and does not in any way reflect upon the integrity of the mine. (ends)