Freeport fills Irian Jaya lake

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Gold and copper mining giant PT Freeport Indonesia has begun to fill up Wanagon Lake, located east of the Grasberg mine.

"Our feasibility study shows that the lake contains a huge copper deposit," Freeport's environmental department manager Wisnu said. "After completing this work we can then start exploitation."

Wisnu hopes the project can be completed before 2001.

But a report by Antara on Saturday quoted sources at the Environmental Bureau in Irian Jaya as saying that the company has yet to obtain proper permits for mining.

The source said Freeport had only asked permission from the regency but still lacks official permits.

In order to prevent new unrest in Timika, the governor will only give permission if the traditional land owners authorize PT Freeport to exploit the lake, the source said. (prb)