No manpower problem in developing Busang

BANDUNG (JP): PT Freeport Indonesia says it will face no problem recruiting workers to develop the Busang gold mine in East Kalimantan and to expand its gold mine in Irian Jaya.

The president of PT Freeport Indonesia, Andrianto Machribie, said in Bandung yesterday his company had anticipated the need to employ workers for its expansion in Irian Jaya and development of the Busang gold mine.

He said the fastest way to get more workers was to recruit experts and graduates from the Institute of Technology in Bandung.

But he said PT Freeport Indonesia, which the government has approved as sole operator of the Busang gold mine, needed experienced workers for the gold mine development.

He said his company was working on how to mobilize workers for its projects.

"We know that by becoming the sole operator of the Busang gold mine we have to recruit more people. We may bring a number of our workers in Irian Jaya to Busang," he was quoted by Antara as saying.

PT Freeport Indonesia employs about 7,000 people, of which 2,000 are Irian Jayans, 280 foreigners and the rest from other parts of Indonesia.

PT Freeport Indonesia, which is a subsidiary of McMoran- Freeport Copper and Gold of the U.S., and Canada's Bre-X Minerals Ltd. announced last month they had signed a binding agreement to develop the Busang gold mine II and III in East Kalimantan.

According to the deal which has already been approved by the Indonesian government, Bre-X will have 45 percent of Busang, Freeport 15 percent and Indonesian companies and the government 40 percent.

Bre-X said it expected to receive its contract of work from the Indonesian government by the end of March. The company needs the document to proceed with the project. (ahy/bnt)