Freeport Urged To Build Rail Tracks In Papua

Timika, Papua, May 17 (Antara) - Papua Governor Lukas Enembe said he strongly urged PT Freeport Indonesia to build railways in Papua to boost the regional economic development. Lukas told reporter here on Friday, the US company having big fold and copper mines in Papua, has contributed to the welfare of the people notably the people of Mimika. However, the contributions were too small given the huge wealth in gold, silver and copper Freeport has exploited in more than 10 years it is operating in Papua, he said. "Yet it is too small. I and the vice governor (Klemen Tinal) have agreed to ask Freeport to build railways. That would be great," he said. He said transport problem has been one of the factors keeping Papua behind other regions in the country . Most of the interior areas of Papua are isolated on geographical and topographical conditions and many people live in the high ranges of mountain and difficult terrain, he said. The only access to the interior areas is by air using small planes and helicopter and not all areas have air terminal or helipads, he said. Building roads would be extremely difficult across the range of mountains with steep slopes , he said, adding ti would not be efficient. He said an alternative transport facility that could be built in Papua is railways. PT Freeport Indonesia, which is owned by Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc has been in Papua since 1970s operating the country`s largest gold and copper mines.