ITB, Freeport cooperate

BANDUNG: The Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) and PT Freeport Indonesia have agreed to cooperate seeking ways to solve industrial problems concerning the giant mining company's operation in Irian Jaya.

Freeport's president, Adrianto Machribie, and ITB's director of the Institute for Affiliated Industrial Research, Kisdarjanto, signed the agreement Thursday.

Machribie said the research center has a number of experts with various backgrounds and experience in handling mining problems. "Combined with the knowledge and skills of Freeport's own staff, we could establish safe working conditions," he said.

There are no details as to the amount of money involved in the project or how long the cooperation will run. (ahy)