28 Mar 2017

Papua promised 5 percent of Freeport divestment

10:58 am on 28 March 2017

Indonesia's Maritime Coordinating Minister, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, says Papua will get five percent from the divestment by copper and gold miner PT Freeport Indonesia.

The subsidiary of the American multi-national is required by law to release 51 percent of its shares to the Indonesian entities.

The Jakarta Post quotes the minister as saying that with the divestment, Indonesia would have 51 percent of shares, while Freeport would have 49 percent, with five percent of shares for local administrations and for local tribes.

Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs speaks to reporters at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in Singapore January 2016.

Indonesia's Maritime Coordinating Minister, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan. Photo: AFP

He said through the dividend from the shares, Papua would improve its education, agriculture and livestock businesses.

He said the shares for the Papuan people would never be tampered with and that Freeport would pay the income directly to Papua.

Luhut said it was part of the protection of Indonesia's people in Papua.

Freeport Indonesia had, on a number of occasions, said it would not accept the government's demand for a divestment, while the Papua administration said last week it wanted 10 percent of the company.