22 May 2013

Heat is on mine owners in Papua after collapse claims 28 victims

1:50 pm on 22 May 2013

Indonesia is reviewing all mining operations after a collapsed mine tunnel in Papua claimed 28 lives.

All bodies have now been recovered from the Freeport McMoRan mine which is the world's biggest gold mine and third biggest copper mine.

Ten workers survived last week's collapse during a safety training course.

Alex Perrottet reports.

"The Indonesian government has demanded the mine stay closed until the cause of collapse is found. A government team has started studying data and maps.The Indonesian director of Freeport Rozik Soetjipto says they will not rest until they find out how such a tragic event could have happened. Indonesia generated $1.3 billion in operating income from Freeport last year, but the closure is likely to cost owners $1.8 million a day. Yan Mandenas at the Papua Legislative Council says the tragedy is a 'strong slap' for Freeport and a thorough evaluation is needed. The incident is almost certain to reignite tensions with unions, who held a record strike in 2011. It's the latest setback for an operation which has also been marred by violence, and claims of environmental degradation."