Rio Tinto, ITB cooperate

JAKARTA (JP): The Anglo-Australian giant mining company Rio Tinto's foundation in Indonesia signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Monday with the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) to promote mining studies and human resources.

PT Rio Tinto Indonesia's president, Noke Kiroyan, who is also chairman of the Rio Tinto Foundation, said in a statement on Tuesday, "The Rio Tinto Foundation wants to cooperate with ITB's School of Mineral Technology to create qualified human resources for the mining sector."

The MOU was signed at ITB's campus by Kiroyan and ITB's rector Lilik Hendrajaya.

Under the five-year MOU, the foundation will help ITB study and develop mining technology, train mining professionals and distribute scientific information on mining, starting next year.

The statement did not mention the total fund prepared by Rio Tinto for the programs.

Earlier, Rio Tinto donated Rp 22 million (US$2,930) in scholarships to ITB students for the current academic semester and another Rp 30 million for students of Yogyakarta's Gadjah Mada University. (jsk)