Newcrest reopens RI unit

Newcrest reopens RI unit

MELBOURNE (Dow Jones): Australia's Newcrest Mining Ltd. said Monday it has resumed mining operations at its Gosowong gold mine on the Indonesian island of Halmahera.

Processing was disrupted for seven days after civil unrest on the island caused an evacuation of 300 people from the mine to Manado, a town on another island. Milling from stockpiled ore began Thursday, and mining operations began Sunday, the company said in a statement.

Newcrest owns 82.5 percent of Gosowong, and the balance is held by PT Aneka Tambang, a gold and nickel producer controlled by the Indonesian government.

The Australian company said January production from Gosowong was in line with budget at more than 26,000 ounces.