Antam's new refinery method

Antam's new refinery method

JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed state mining company Aneka
Tambang is trying a new method of gold smelting and refining at
its Logam Mulia smelter and refinery to improve efficiency, the
company said.

Company operation director Harsojo Dihardjo said Tuesday the
new method, called chlorination -- in which chlorine is used to
separate gold from other metals, mainly silver -- would enable
the facilities located in Pulo Gadung, East Jakarta, to speed up
its refining process, reduce working capital and increase
recovery.

He said Aneka Tambang had hired Australia's Western Australian
Mint Company to consult on the application of the new method.

"The chlorination is now in the commissioning stage," Harsojo
said.

Harsojo said Aneka Tambang had also hired Morgan Worldwide
Mining Consultants of the United States from early this year to
consult the company on the application of a world-class security
system at Logam Mulia.

"People now have to follow very strict rules to enter our
facilities," he said.

Logam Mulia has an annual production capacity of 60 tons of
gold and 270 tons of silver. (jsk)