The Pongkor Gold Mine employs 678 staff. The mine is owned by the Indonesian state company PT Antam Tbk and is located 100 kilometres south west of Jakarta, in Java, Indonesia._x000D_
Mine and infrastructure development started in 1992 following intensive geological exploration over 15 years. First gold production was in June 1994._x000D_
The mine comprises three main orebodies: Ciguha, which is nearly mined out, dips at 75 from surface to 150 m._x000D_
Kubang Cicau, dipping at 80 from surface to 230 m, and averages 3.5 metres thick at a grade of 10 g/t Au and 128 g/t Ag; and Ciurug, dipping at 60 from surface to 300 m and averages eight metres thick at a grade of 14 g/t Au and 172 g/t Ag._x000D_
Present global ore reserves are 4.6 million tons at a grade of 12.3 g/t Au and 133.6 g/t Ag. Exploration is continuing for new veins._x000D_
Initial mining was by manual cut and hydraulic fill at Ciguha, followed by Kubang Cicau._x000D_
In 1996, it was proposed to convert Ciurug to a mechanised cut and fill operation. Two single boom jumbos and three load-haul-dumps (LHDs) were purchased with the assistance of a gold loan from NM Rothschild and Sons._x000D_
Implementation of this upgrade was delayed by both a national economic crisis and an invasion of the concession by illegal miners. It was not until May 1999 that raise bore vent rises and access drift infrastructure commenced. Major underground development started in 2000 and is continuing. Production cut and waste fill stoping started in July 2001._x000D_
The change from manual to mechanised methods has required a total change in work practices and attitudes. However, the process has resulted in a production increase from 600 tpd to 1200 tpd._x000D_
A three-month compliance test (a condition of the financing loan) was successfully completed, from July to September 2001, with an average production of 700 tpd at Ciurug and 500 tpd from Kubang Cicau.