West Papuans have long expressed frustration about the environmental destruction caused by the Freeport mine operations in Mimika regency. Photo: MIneral Policy Institute
The Government of Indonesia's Papua province is to get 10 a per cent share in PT Freeport Indonesia, the company which operates a huge gold and copper mine in Papua.
The new share arrangement is part of a divestment package that Freeport's US parent company, Freeport McMoran, negotiated with Indonesia.
Tabloid Jubi reports that seven per cent will go to Mimika Regency where the Grasberg mine complex is located, while three per cent will go to the Papua provincial government.
As part of the overall divestment, Indonesia will get 51 percent of the shares in Freeport's Papua operations.
Papua's Governor Lukas Enembe confirmed the new arrangement, saying it would be signed this Friday between his government, the national government, PT Freeport and Mimika Regency's administration.
Mr Enembe had previously complained about the lack of participation by Papuans in control of Freeport.
