RI supports privatization of tin research body

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia supports the privatization of the London-based International Tin Research Institute (ITRI), which is now under the management of the Association of Tin Producing Countries (ATPC), to improve its services to tin users throughout the world.

"Most of the ATPC members have agreed to the privatization of the institution and a draft ruling on the privatization scheme is now under final consideration," Erry Riana Hardjapamekas, president of the state-owned tin miner PT Tambang Timah, told reporters during a break of the third world conference on tin here yesterday.

The two-day meeting, which ended yesterday, was organized by the London-based Metal Bulletin.

He said that the institute, set up in 1932 to provide services to the tin industry, is financed by the governments of tin producing countries.

"With the privatization, the governments will terminate their regular contributions for the institution's operations," Erry told The Jakarta Post.

"I cannot give details of the new scheme for privatization, because it is still under preparation," he added, hoping that the next ministerial conference of the ATPC, scheduled for September this year in Bangkok, will approve the draft ruling on the privatization.

Tambang Timah's director for exploration and development, Mulyadi Nitiwisastro, said Indonesia pays over 660,000 pounds a year in contributions to the operations of the institute.

For the ATPC, Indonesia pays a contribution of US$100,000 a year.

Visiting ITRI director, B.T.K. Barry, conceded that the current research and development programs of the institute are all influenced to a greater or lesser degree by environmental issues.

"This year, for example, we see a successful completion of the first phase of a program to develop tin-based lead-free solders for the electronics industry," he added.

The soldering sector is today the largest single market for tin in the world, consuming some 60,000 tons per year, he said.

Barry said the institute also recently developed a new process for producing high-tin, lead-free capsules for the wine and spirits industries. (fhp)