Sonny says has not intention to close down Freeport

State Minister of Environment Sonny Keraf said he had no intention to close down the operation of copper and gold mine company PT Freeport Indonesia in Irian Jaya, but to push the company to meet environmental requirements set in its contract of work, Detikcom reported.

Sonny said on Saturday that the government had formed two teams to investigate the company with one comprising the officials of the Ministry of Environment and the other comprising officials of several ministries.

The first task force comprising officials of the Ministry of Environment focused its investigation on the environmental impacts of Freeport's operation, Sonny said, adding the team will soon finalize its job.

The other task force was expected to make final reports on its work by July, Sonny said, but he did not specify the job of the cross-ministerial task force.

The cross-ministerial task force will report to President Abdurrahman Wahid who would decide whether to revise the contract of Freeport. (*)