Security upgraded on Newmont?s Indonesia operations: Report

World?s number one gold miner Newmont Mining Corp. said on Tuesday that security was upgraded in its Batu Hijau copper and gold mine in Sumbawa island and in Minahasa gold mine following Bali attack.

?Security at both mines was upgraded early yesterday. We have put everybody at the mines on a level-2 alert. They have their bags packed, but we haven't evacuated yet. Level-one alert is where people get evacuated. Everyone is on stand-by, ? Nicola Frazer, manager of investor relations at Newmont Mining Corp.'s Australian unit was quoted by Bloomberg as saying.

Batu Hijau, which employs about 6,700 people, including contractors, is expected to contribute 235,000 ounces of gold and 310-to-340 million pounds of copper to Newmont's sales in 2002, according to the company's Web site. Gold production from Minahasa, where about 375 people are employed, is expected to reach 150,000 ounces in 2002.

``No non-essential travel is being permitted off the islands on which the mines are located for either Indonesian locals or ex- pats. At this stage, as far as we understand from the sites, it's business as usual. .We use a security consultant group there called AIG (American International Group Inc.). We are operating under their advice. They are security experts in the region and are determining how large the risk is for us.'' (*)