Amahl S. Azwar, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Business | Sat, June 08 2013, 3:14 PM
Paper Edition | Page: 13
PT Freeport Indonesia, a subsidiary of the US mining giant Freeport-McMoran Copper & Gold Inc., has asked the government to clarify its ongoing probe into two incidents that took place in May at the firms’ facilities in Papua.
Freeport Indonesia president director Rozik B. Soetjipto said on Friday that the mining giant, one of the country’s biggest taxpayers, wanted to be kept up-to-date on the progress of the investigation so that it could predict when to resume mining operations.
“Certainly, when we resume production activities depends on the results of the investigation,” he said in a telephone interview.
Freeport was expecting to meet with officials from the coal and mineral division of the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry in Jakarta to get updates on the investigation, according to Rozik.
However, he said, the company had yet to receive confirmation from the officials on when the meeting would take place.
As previously reported by The Jakarta Post, Freeport ceased operations at its mining complex in Papua following a tunnel collapse at a training facility near its Big Gossan mine site on May 14, in which 28 workers died — the company’s deadliest incident in Indonesia.
Freeport had planned to resume production activities at its Grasberg open-mine site to guarantee shipments of concentrates when, last Friday, a truck operator died after he was buried by wet ore material that flowed from an ore bin at the Deep Ore Zone (DOZ) underground mining facility.
The government consequently forbade the miner, which usually produces 220,000 tons of ore per day, from conducting any activity at its mining complex. Mining operations could only resume only after the government completes its investigation, which is expected to last three months.
In his visit to Jakarta last month, Freeport-McMoran CEO Richard Adkerson said Freeport’s current supply of concentrates would be able to fulfill the demand from their customers “for several days”.
The government formed an investigation team consisting of local mining experts under the leadership of Ridho Wattimena, current head of the mining engineering graduate program at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), to inspect Freeport’s safety standards.
Ridho said that the investigation would last less than the three months predicted, indicating that Freeport could resume activities earlier than expected. “The three-month period stated by Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Jero Wacik is not just for the investigation into the accident but for the entire investigation and inspection of all underground mining activities in Indonesia,” Ridho was quoted as saying by Reuters. “I don’t think [the accident] investigation will take too long,” Ridho said.
Freeport will unlikely meet its production target of 1.3 million troy ounces of gold by year’s end, up by 44.4 percent from the 900,000 troy ounces the mining firm booked in 2012, amid its operations shutdown.
Halting operations for three months would cut around 125,000 metric tons of copper or about half a percent from the global supply, according to Reuters estimates, which combined with other disruptions, could wipe out an expected small market surplus and boost global prices.
Separately, the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry’s coal and minerals chief, Thamrin Sihite, told reporters in Jakarta that amid the ongoing probe, his office would also put pressure on Freeport Indonesia to wrap up its renegotiation process with the government.
Freeport is among mining giants that have yet to complete its contract renegotiations with the government.
The renegotiations, which must conclude by the end of the year, cover six main issues: an increase of royalty payments, the establishment of local smelters, the use of local goods and services, divestment, contract extensions and the size of mining areas.
Till now, Freeport has refused to increase its royalty payments and to have its working areas reduced to 25,000 hectares. It has also refused to build smelters to process ores locally despite the 2009 Mining Law, which will ban the export of unprocessed mineral ores starting in 2014.
Earlier this year, the company said that it may have to layoff workers next year should the government decline to amend the law
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A google translate of article in Jubi. Be-aware google translate can be a bit erratic.
Original bahasa at
2) Buchtar Tabuni: Police PAPUA UNPROFESSIONAL
Author: Benny Mawel |
Editor: Victor Mambor
| June 9, 2013 | 0
Filed in: Jayapura
Buctar Tabuni (Jubi / Mawel)
Jayapura, 8/6 (Jubi)-Chairman of the National Parliament of West Papua (PNWP) Buchtar Tabuni assess Papua Police did not respond to the letter administrative professional in KNPB demo which was held June 10 plan later.
"Police are not professionals in response to the notification KNPB rally support in Melanesia Papua enter Sparehead Group (MSG)." He said, in a press conference at the cafe Prima Garden, Abepura, Jayapura, Papua (8/6).
Not professional, according to the former chairman of the National Committee of West Papua, lies in the way police handle suarat KNPB. "If we submit pemberirahuan honorably, responses should also be professional, respected by mail," he said.
If the police respond through the media, impressed demo KNPB submit plans through the media. "If through the mass media, the response must also be over the mass media," he said.
Buchtar Further, if the response to a letter KNPB done through the mass media, police gave the impression of being provocative. "If appropriate mechanisms reply, letter by letter certainly no problem. If not it be like this media prpokatif, "he said.
KNPB reply letter from Papua regional police in the form of a letter published in the daily news of paradise Post and several other local media, Saturday (8/6). "Police did not give permission, will remain KNPB demo," the daily headline news in the Paradise Post.
Previously, Indria Fernida, activists KontraS to Jubi, Saturday (08/06) warned about the freedom of expression situation in Indonesia is quite alarming, particularly in Papua.
"We consider that the official visit of the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression urgently needed given the situation of freedom of expression in Indonesia is quite alarming. Legalization plan CBOs and state secrecy bill that threatens civil liberties, criminalize the parties critical of government policies, as well as violence against journalists and human rights defenders is an ongoing threat to freedom berekpsresi portrait in Indonesia. "Said Indria. (Jubi / Mawel).
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A google translate of article in Bintangpapua. Be-aware google translate can be a bit erratic.
Original bahasa at
Saturday, June 8, 2013 11:00
3) PNG rejects OPM office in Port Moresby
Head of Public Relations: Police Not Give STTP Action Demo KNPB June 10
Office-Inauguration Jayapura Papua Organization (OPM) in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (PNG) is planned for Tuesday (18/6), as the Chairman of the Committee Diplomacy Commissariat Nasioanl West Papua (KNPB) Wetipo Warpo Center, was rejected by the government The neighboring countries.
Remarked the Consul or the Chief Representative of the Republic of Indonesia Consulate in Vanimo, PNG Jahar Gultom via electronic mail sent to reporters in Jayapura on Friday (7/6).
It says Jahar Gultom, with regard to the opening of the OPM Office in Port Moresby delivered. First, the PNG Government recognizes that Papua is an integral part of the Republic of Indonesia (Republic of Indonesia) and relationships with Indonesia.
Second, the Ambassador in Port Moresby has expressed concern about the Indonesian Government through diplomatic channels and requested that the PNG Government not to allow opening of the OPM Office.
Third, the Indonesian Government has got the attention of the Government of PNG and promised to explore the problem and will not tolerate things that could destabilize PNG.
Fourth, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that there is a party in PNG PNG who have common interests or affinities between PNG and Indonesia.
Fifth, now is the best time in the bilateral relations between Indonesia and PNG, where both the Government is Actively promote cooperation in various fields and in the near future Piter PNG Prime Minister O'Neill will travel to Indonesia with a large delegation.
Meanwhile, Head of Public Relations Papua Police Commissioner (Pol) I Gede Sumerta Jaya, SIK when his office confirmed on Friday (7/6) said it on Wednesday (5/6) has received notification peaceful demonstration on Monday (18/6 ) of the Central Governing Body (CPP-KNPB) Tabuni Buchtar signed by its Chairman, to register to join the West Papua Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG). However, said Head of Public Relations, the Police did not give Receipt Notification (STTP).
Therefore, said Head of Public Relations, the company does not have a duty to provide security to the KNPB demonstrations. But if it turns out demonstrations done, then it will make efforts persuasive. When the masses still forced to do dissolution. And when this happens we will certainly apply the criminal acts of treason which carries a 20-year prison terms.
"As long as these materials are always voiced KNPB is West Papua's independence and against the legitimate government," he concluded.
No reason given STTP, I Gede said the demonstration to voice support or West Papuan independence, as in Law No. 9 of 1998 on freedom of expression in public. Article 6 states that citizens express opinions in public duty and responsibility to respect the rights of others, respect for moral rules generally recognized, obey the laws and provisions of laws and regulations that apply, maintain and respect the security and public order and maintain the integrity of national unity. Furthermore, Law No. 21 Year 2001 on Special Autonomy for Papua Province Article 2 states Papua Province as part of the Homeland. (Mdc/don/l03)
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