Antam finds bauxite

JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed state general mining company PT Aneka Tambang announced yesterday that it had discovered a 2.5- ton bauxite reserve on Bintan island, Riau.

The reserve, which is located in the Lomesa area, will enable Aneka Tambang (Antam) to extend its bauxite mining operation on the island to 2004, the company said.

The company is currently mining bauxite in the Kijang area on the island, the reserves of which will be exhausted by 2000.

Aneka Tambang is the only bauxite produce in the country with an output of 808,749 tons last year and a projected 850,000 tons this year.

Bauxite operation contributed 6.3 percent of the company's net sales of Rp 450 billion (US$34.6 million) in 1997. (jsk)