Rio Tinto, UNPAD sign deal

JAKARTA (JP): Rio Tinto Foundation, established by mining company PT Rio Tinto Indonesia, has signed a cooperation agreement with Padjadjaran University (UNPAD) of Bandung, West Java, to promote geological studies.

Rio Tinto Indonesia is a unit of Anglo-Australian giant mining company Rio Tinto.

The company said in a statement the cooperation memorandum was signed on Saturday by Rio Tinto Foundation chairman Noke Kiroyan and the dean of UNPAD's math and science school, Supriyatna, at the university campus.

Noke said the foundation will help finance geological study and research at the university, including dissertation preparations for three doctoral candidates.

He did not reveal the fund amount. (jsk)