1) Indonesian president wants Freeport purchase talks over by May
2) Candidates vow to improve welfare in Papua
-------------------------------------
1) Indonesian president wants Freeport purchase talks over by May
Indonesia's President is pushing for completion of talks over the purchase of a majority stake in the Freeport mine in Papua before May.
7:33 am today
Last August, the American miner Freeport McMoran agreed to divest 51 percent of shares in its Indonesian subsidiary which runs the lucrative mine at Grasberg in Papua province.
This was in exchange for the miner securing long-term operating rights.
Indonesia's government currently owned a less-than-10 percent stake in Freeport Indonesia.
However long-running negotiations over the terms of the divestment have not been finalised.
Reuters reports that President Joko Widodo has instructed his administration to complete negotiations over the purchase of a majority stake in Freeport-by the end of April.
Freeport said in January it was close to a deal with Indonesia for Grasberg, the world's second-biggest copper mine.
However a fair price for the shares has been a sticking point.
Papua province itself has also been seeking a greater share of the mine.
The provincial government last year reportedly secured a ten percent share in Freeport's local operations as part of the divestment package.
Seven percent was to go to Mimika Regency where the Grasberg mine complex is located, while three per cent would go to the provincial government.
Papua's Governor Lukas Enembe confirmed that the new arrangement, having previously complained about the lack of participation by Papuans in the control of Freeport.
For years, the Freeport mine has been Indonesia's largest single source of revenue.
———————————————
2) Candidates vow to improve welfare in Papua
Nethy Dharma Somba The Jakarta Post
Jakarta | Tue, March 6, 2018 | 05:45 pm
Papua gubernatorial candidates have promised to prioritize programs to improve the livelihood of Papuan people.
With fewer than four months left before regional elections are held, two gubernatorial candidate pairs stated on Tuesday their vision and mission in an event held at the Papua Legislative Council. Acting Papua governor Soedarmo attended the declaration.
Lukas Enembe and Klemen Tinal said they would continue to build upon programs they had initiated, claiming to have achieved targets set during their term, in which they disbursed more special autonomy funds to regencies and municipalities across the province.
“This is because Papuans are concentrated in regencies and municipalities,” the pair said on Tuesday.
The two candidates promised to focus on the health and education sector should they be elected. Meanwhile, candidate pair John Wempi Wetipo and Hebel Melkias Suwae promised they would also focus their works to boost people’s confidence and sovereignty in all aspects of life, as well as to build a clean administration.
Appreciating both candidate pair’s campaigns, Soedarmo said every Papuan must maintain order and security during the election. Several surveys show Papua is among vulnerable regions in the 2018 simultaneous regional elections. (kuk/ebf)
---------------------------------
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.