Source: Reuters Author: Dicky Kristanto, Fitri Wulandari 01/06/2010
Subject Concerned: Airlines Aviation Fuel Airport
A shortage of jet fuel curbing flights to an airport near the giant Grasberg copper and gold mine in Indonesia's Papua would not hit operations and production, a spokesman for Freeport Indonesia said on Jan. 6.
Jet fuel supplies at Timika's airport had been running low due to extra flights over the holidays and limited fuel storage, the spokesman Mindo Pangaribuan said.
"The jet fuel shortage supply will not affect PT Freeport Indonesia's operation and production at Grasberg," said Pangaribuan.
Grasberg accounts for nearly 40 percent of Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold's total copper reserves of 93 billion pounds and has the world's largest gold reserves.
Local media reported that the national airline Garuda Indonesia had temporarily suspended flights to Timika, the main town near Freeport's huge Grasberg mine, after it was not allowed to refuel at the weekend at the airport operated by a joint venture with Freeport.
But Pangaribuan said airport operator PT Airfast Aviation Facilities Company (AVCO) had notified all commercial carriers about low jet fuel supplies at Timika and had supplied fuel to Garuda Indonesia on Jan. 4 and Jan. 5.
AVCO has a joint venture with Freeport Indonesia for ground handling at Mozes Kilangin airport in Timika.
A Garuda Indonesia spokesman said the airline, which normally runs a daily flight between Jakarta and Timika, was reviewing whether to resume flights after receiving a letter from the head of the airport in Timika pledging to supply jet fuel.
Aviation is vital link to areas in remote Papua but is often hazardous due to rugged, high mountains covered in thick jungle and rapidly changing weather conditions.