GOVT TO HAVE FIRST PRIORITY TO PURCHASE NEWMONT SHARES

Jakarta, May 6 (ANTARA) - State Enterprises Minister Sofyan Djalil said here on Wednesday the government would have the first priority to purchase PT Newmont shares.

"Yes, the first priority to purchase PT Newmont shares is given to the government and the second priority to state-owned companies," he said after attending a seminar held by the Indonesia Petroleum Association.

Sofyan did not disclose when exactly the government would implement the purchase saying only "what is clear is that the government will buy them but when it will be done has not yet been determined as it is all still being discussed."
When asked if local governments would also be given part of the shares he said "yes", added that it was all still being coordinated.

Several state-owned companies such as PT Aneka Tambang had already expressed their interest to buy the shares.

President director of PT Aneka Tambang, Alwinsyah Lubis, said on Wednesday his company was ready to buy the shares to be divested by PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara, if the government would assign it.

Indonesia won its lawsuit through international arbitration last April requiring PT Newmont to divest 17 percent of its shares to the country.