Aurora to explore gold

Aurora to explore gold

JAKARTA (JP): PT Aurora Gold Limited has started to explore
gold in a 306,583-hectare concession area in Paniai, Fakfak and
Manokwari in the easternmost province of Irian Jaya.

Umar Katjili, the head of the economic department of the
Paniai administration, said on Saturday that three companies are
currently exploring for gold in Paniai. They are PT Mutiara, PT
Dharma Bhakti and PT Nabire Bhakti Mining.

Irian Jaya is also the operational base of Indonesia's biggest
gold producer, PT Freeport Indonesia.

Indonesia produced 42.53 tons of gold last year, of which
25.23 tons, or more than 50 percent, were derived from Freeport's
copper mine in Tembagapura, Irian Jaya. (04)