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)