Daniel Esteban Herera Campos and Manuel Kiyosh Kuwahara, the miners told the press in Timika Sunday that in Freeport they will inspect gold, copper and silver mines of the American mining company.
In addition, Esteban and Manuel will also learn the procedure of the health and safety procedures of the workers, and establish cooperation with the Indonesian Mining Association (IMA).
Manuel praised the safety system of the miners of Freeport. He also expressed admiration of the computerization system of Freeport in the mining areas, monitoring all its operational activities.
"We hope for good relations between Chile and Indonesia, not only in the economic field, but also in sharing knowledge and exchange of mining workers," Manuel, a mechanic and engineer, said.
His colleague, Esteban, who was also trapped for 62 days along with 32 fellow miners in a mine almost 700 meter deep in Chile from August to October 2010, tells about his very dramatic experience.
Esteban said for 17 days and his friends there was no contact with the outside world and the other miners on the surface.
He said one important factor which enabled the miners to survive was their good understanding and mastery of saving procedures.
"We are also thinking of our families, which also made us able to stay alive in the mine," Esteban said.
"In the 17 days before there was contact with the surface, every day we discussed what we could do to stay alive," Esteban said adding that the supply of food and 20 thousand liters of water also contributed to our survival.
Manuel added that on August 5, 2010, the rescue team bored a 12 cm hole into the earth`s crust right on the location of the trapped workers.
After establishing contact with the miners, food, drinks and all the necessaries of the workers had been supplied through the hole. And at that time the rescue team managed to lower a camera through the hole to monitor the condition of the workers.
Then on August 30, 2010, the rescue team dug a bigger 80 cm hole. And on September 4, 2010, built a 80 cm hole with an inclination of 80 degrees. And the last drilling was done on September 10 to build the same hole, but with an inclination of 85 degrees.
After reaching the position of the workers a rescue capsule was put in the 80 cm hole for the evacuation of each of the trapped workers.
Florencio Avalos was the first pulled out from the mining area of on Wednesday October 13. Avalos reached the surface safely after 15 minutes.
Manuel said the location of the mine where Esteban worked, has been operating for 100 years.
The evacuation of the mining workers was witnessed in person by the Chilean President himself, Sebastian Vinera.
While in Freeport, Manuel and Esteban visited the open mine in Grassberg, Tembagapura, an under ground mine and tailing reclamation or Freeport sand mine in Mile Point 21. (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
