Release: Update: Newmont reports partial slope failure at Batu Hijau Mine in Indonesia
Tuesday, September 22 2009 - 04:43 PM WIB
PTNNT has temporarily suspended operations in the Batu Hijau pit pending a geotechnical review and development of a plan for stabilizing the wall and recommencing mining operations.
PTNNT continues to process lower-grade ore from stockpiles.
It is too early to assess the impact on production and revenues and the Company will provide an update once it has a clear understanding of the impacts of the incident and related remediation on production for 2009.
Batu Hijau utilizes an advanced monitoring system that measures movement in the pit walls. As a result, no personnel were in the pit at the time of the wall movement. Initial assessments indicate nominal damage to in-pit infrastructure and equipment.
Processing operations are continuing with ore fed to the mill from stockpiles.
Work is underway to assess the cause of the slide and to develop a plan for the safe resumption of mining activities in the pit, in addition to analyzing any long term impacts to the current mine plan, if any.
Additional information will be provided following the investigation and analysis.
The Batu Hijau mine is located on the island of Sumbawa, approximately 950 miles (1,529 kilometers) east of Jakarta.(end of release)
