Freeport's expansion plan to continue<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Mining company PT Freeport Indonesia announced
\nyesterday that it had received approval from the state minister
\nof environment for its regional Environmental Impact Analysis.<\/p>\n
The company's president, Adrianto Machribie, said the approval
\nwas necessary in order to allow Freeport to expand its milling
\ncapacity to a maximum 300,000 tons of ore per day.<\/p>\n
\"We are pressing ahead with an aggressive construction
\nschedule to meet the company's previously announced objective for
\nincreasing mill capacity to at least 190,000 to 200,000 tons per
\nday by mid-1998, and eventually up to a 300,000 tons per day
\nlevel,\" Machribie said.<\/p>\n
The company said the analysis was first submitted to the
\nEnvironmental Impact Management Agency (Bapedal) and the Regional
\nEnvironmental Impact Analysis Commission on Sept. 1 and reviewed
\nand revised by the commission.<\/p>\n
The study submitted to Bapedal was the culmination of a
\nmultiyear effort to develop an analysis of the impact and benefit
\nof the proposed expansion of the mills throughout, the company
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The analysis prepared by Freeport Indonesia was termed \"the
\nmost comprehensive the agency has ever seen\", the deputy chairman
\nof Bapedal, Paul Coutrier, said.<\/p>\n
According to Freeport, 42 environmental studies had been
\nconducted during the preparation of the analysis, as well as an
\nextensive analysis of the social situation in the area around the
\nmine.<\/p>\n
\"Freeport Indonesia subjected the major studies to peer review
\nto ensure their accuracy and independence,\" the company said.<\/p>\n
In addition, Freeport Indonesia and its consultants presented
\nthe findings of the studies at five workshops on major social and
\nenvironmental issues, the company added.<\/p>\n
Machribie said the expansion to 190,000 to 200,000 tons per
\nday, which was expected to cost approximately US$1 billion, would
\ncreate economic opportunities in the area.<\/p>\n
\"In addition to creating more jobs, the expansion of the mill
\nwill provide additional funds for social incentives including the
\nIntegrated Timika Development Program, as well as generating more
\nroyalties for the province and taxes for the central government,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
He added the expansion would bring the company's total
\ninvestment to over $84 billion, with over 16,000 Indonesians
\nemployed in mineral exploration and development, and the mining
\nand milling of copper, gold and silver in Irian Jaya. (gis)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/freeports-expansion-plan-to-continue-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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