RI gold output jumps

RI gold output jumps

SYDNEY (Reuter): Gold production in Indonesia jumped to 74.1 tons in 1995 from 55.3 tons in 1994, Gold Fields Mineral Services said in its annual gold industry review.

Gold Fields attributed the increase to expansions at Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc's Ertsberg/Grasberg gold and copper mine, where production totaled over 40 tons, and start-up of the Mount Muro mine in Kalimantan by Aurora Gold Ltd, which produced four tons in 1995.

Gold output in the Philippines fell eight percent year-on-year in 1995 to 28 tons, Gold Fields said.

Japanese production declined to 9.2 tons in 1995 from 9.6 tons in 1994 due to lower output from the high-grade Hishikari mine.