Govt allows PTFI open-pit mine to resume production on Monday

By Bambang Atmaja

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Jero Wacik said on Thursday that PT Freeport Indonesia's open-pit mine can restart production activity on Monday as it is now considered safe to conduct the activity.

"Next week the open pit-mine can restart operation,... on Monday," Jero said at the State Palace.

The minister said that he made the decision following request from the firm, local police and the local regent, who are concerned that a prolonged shut down risk serious social problems as many workers would remain unemployed.

The government shut down the PTFI mining operation following a deadly underground mining accident last month. Jero said that an investigation into the collapse of the underground mining tunnel is still in progress.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak