JAKARTA – Holding State Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Mining will hand over the Wabu Block to PT Aneka Tambang Tbk (ANTM) to be managed. Where, the handover was after the Papua Provincial Government handed over the Wabu Block to Mind Id.
The Wabu Block itself is a gold mine block or area that Freeport once used in mining gold stones.
Also read: Gold Demand Soars, Freeport Net Profits Translucent Rp1.4 Trillion
President Director of the BUMN mining holding, PT Inalum (Persero) or MIND ID, Orias Petrus Moedak, said the Governor of Papua had written to his party. In the contents of the letter, the local government handed over the Wabu Block to MIND ID.
“There was a letter from the governor who handed over management to MIND ID, but the gold expert was Antam, he would follow up on it to Antam,” said Orias at a hearing (RDP) with Commission VI, Tuesday (29/9/2020).
Also read: Erick Thohir Permits to Use Freeport Deposits for Antam’s Gold Business
Meanwhile, MIND ID will continue to work with the Papuan regional government to encourage the processing of the Wabu Block. “We will cooperate with the regional government for mining in Papua, this is still in the early stages,” he said.
Orias revealed that the handover of the gold block to ANTM was in accordance with the direction of BUMN minister Erick Thohir.
Erick Thohir’s wish that ANTM can process gold mining was welcomed by ANTM management. Antam’s Senior Vice President Corporate Secretary Kunto Hendrapawoko said that Antam’s opportunity to be able to manage the Wabu Block is a good prospect for the company.
“This is a good prospect for Antam as part of the MIND ID Mining Industry Holding to strengthen the Company’s gold commodity portfolio, especially with the current composition of MIND ID members,” said Kunto.
In terms of capability, Antam is quite capable of managing a new gold mine. Currently, Antam has been managing gold commodities from upstream to downstream, starting from exploration, mining carried out in the Pongkor and Cibaliung gold mines to gold management which is carried out through the Precious Metal Processing and Refinery Plant managed by UBPP Logam Mulia.
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