Antam projects 10% rise in Pongkor gold output

Antam projects 10% rise in Pongkor gold output

JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed gold and nickel company PT Aneka
Tambang (Antam) predicts this year's gold output from its mine in
Pongkor, West Java, will rise about 10 percent.

Antam president Deddy Aditya Sumanagara said on Wednesday the
production increase from about 2,900 kilograms last year would be
possible largely due to better security measures against illegal
mining at the site.

"There will definitely be a rise in our gold production,
although the situation is not entirely secure yet," Deddy said.

Traditional miners from Bogor and Lebak have descended on
Pongkor and mined for gold without the company's permission for
many years. Many have died in accidents at the site.

"I am confident that the government will soon find ways to
stop the illegal mining activities," Deddy said after a hearing
with House of Representatives Commission VIII on energy and
mining.

He said the government should stop the illegal activities to
avoid further environmental damage and to assure mining investors
of the supremacy of the law.

Deddy said Antam's nickel production would increase from 5
percent to 10 percent from last year's 9,221 metric tons. (03)