BTM to develop gold mine

JAKARTA (JP): An Indonesian company and an Australian investor have set up a consortium called PT Barisan Tropical Mining (BTM) to develop a gold mine in Musi Rawas, South Sumatra.

"The mining development will start next year," Musi Rawas Regent Radjab Semendawi was quoted by Antara as saying in Musi Rawas yesterday.

He did not identify the Indonesian company or the Australian investor.

According to Radjab, the Australian investor agreed to invest US$35 million for the gold mining development at the Suka Menang village.

"A survey, which has been conducted over the past eight years, has proven that the Suka Menang mining area contains a large reserve of gold," he said without going into further detail.

He said that to support the mining development, the Musi Rawas administration will improve the quality of the 13 kilometer road leading to the mining area. (13)