Govt regrets Newmont case

Govt regrets Newmont case

JAKARTA (JP): A top official of the Ministry of Mines and
Energy expressed concerns on Tuesday over the closure order
issued by a district court in North Sulawesi to gold mining
company Newmont Minahasa Raya.

Acting Director General of Mining Suryantoro said the ministry
would seek to find an out-of-court settlement for the dispute
between the company and the Minahasa regency so that the company
could continue operations.

"We are really concerned with the suit filed by the Minahasa
regency against the company. If Newmont's operation is closed,
that will amount to a violation by the government of the contract
of work awarded to the company," Suryantoro said on the sidelines
of the seminar on geothermal power.

"Thus, we'll try to resolve the dispute out of court," he was
quoted by Antara as saying.

The Tondano District Court issued an injunction on Saturday to
temporarily stop the company's activities in Ratatotok, Minahasa
regency, North Sulawesi until the court finishes its hearings of
the suit filed by the Minahasa regency against Newmont.

The suit was filed following Newmont's refusal to pay a local
tax to the regency. (jsk)