Rio Tinto, ITB cooperate

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)