Ternate (ANTARA News) - Investors from China and Australia were interested in developing the gold mine in North Halmahera regency, North Maluku.

Head of the North Halmahera mining and energy agency Aser Tidore said here Monday that the Chinese investor was interested in developing the goldmine in Galela Barat, while the Australian investor wished to develop the goldmine in Kao.

The Chinese investor planned to start the mining activities in Galela Barat in mid-2010, and his Australian counterpart has yet to set the date when to start.

The two investors must not follow the example of PT Nusa Halmahera Minerals (NHM), a goldmining company which had been operating in North Hamahaera since the end of the 1990s, which appeared to be rather reluctant to contribute maximally to the people of the area.
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