RI to quit tin group

RI to quit tin group

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia will quit the Association of Tin
Producing Countries (ATCP) in August because it regards the group
as ineffective, president of publicly listed PT Tambang Timah
Erry Riyana Hardjapamekas announced yesterday.

"The association's mission is to stabilize prices but it has
failed to do the job," Erry said.

Indonesia is one of the world's biggest tin producers.

Malaysia, a founding member of the group, has also indicated
that it may leave the association but has made no formal
announcement to that effect.

Other members include Bolivia, China and Nigeria. Thailand and
Australia left the organization in 1996.

Erry said ATCP is a government-level organization, while tin
mining companies group themselves in the International Tin
Research Institute (ITRI) which aims to expand the application of
tin products.

"Tambang Timah is still a member of ITRI," Erry said. (jsk)