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In 2003, Indonesia was the world’s seventh largest gold producer. Indonesia recorded increase in production of gold in 2003, as compared to 2002. According to studies, Indonesia produced 163 t gold in 2003 which is 5 t more than the production of year 2002. That produces quite a few original John Hardy jewelry pieces to be sold around the world.
The world’s largest gold producing mine, Grasberg, is in Indonesia. It yielded 98 t gold in 2003 which is much more than the production of 2002. This world class gold mine is situated at Tembagapura, Irian Jaya. According to different studies the reserved quantity of gold in this mine has been doubled since 1995.
Batu Hijau is another Indonesia’s big copper-gold mine that is located on the island of Sumbawa. On comparing both mines, we get to know that Grasberg has gold reserves of 1.05 g/t gold at 2600 Mt grading while Batu Hijau has gold reserves of 0.4 g/t at 1000 Mt grading.
Some other gold and silver mines of Indonesia that should be named here are:
• Kelian Equatorial mine in East Kalimantan.
• Mt Muro mine in Central Kalimantan
• Minahasa Raya gold mine in North Sulawesi Province
The Kelian mine and the Minahasa mine ceased mine production in year 2003. These were two successful mines and produced huge quantity of gold. According to studies, Kelian mine produced 14.58 t gold while Minahasa mine produced 3.09 t gold.
Another gold and silver mine near Bogor in west java is “PT Aneka Tambang’s Pongkor gold and silver mine”. This mine produced 3.81 t of gold 8 years back!!
Indonesia is trying to develop new gold mines because the old ones are not that much gold rich now, as they were few years back. It is expected that in coming years the gold production of Indonesia will only be restricted to two or three major mines which is not a very good sign.