SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                               Washington, D.C.  20549


                                      FORM 8-K

                                   CURRENT REPORT

                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

                           Securities Exchange Act of 1934

      Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  January 6, 1998


                         FREEPORT-McMoRan COPPER & GOLD INC.


        Delaware                  1-9916              74-2480931

     (State or other            (Commission         (IRS Employer 
      jurisdiction of            File Number)        Identification
      incorporation or                               Number)
      organization)


                                 1615 Poydras Street
                            New Orleans, Louisiana  70112

     Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (504) 582-4000


          Item 5.  Other Events.


          The following news release was issued by Freeport-McMoRan  Copper
          & Gold Inc. on January 6, 1998:

                    FREEPORT-McMoRan COPPER & GOLD INC. ANNOUNCES
                     SALE OF INDONESIAN ELECTRICAL POWER ASSETS

               NEW ORLEANS, LA., January 6, 1998  -- Freeport-McMoRan
          Copper & Gold Inc. (FCX) announced today that its principal
          mining affiliate, P.T. Freeport Indonesia Company (PTFI), and Rio
          Tinto, PTFI's joint venture partner, have sold their interests in
          a 195-megawatt coal-fired power plant and transmission facilities
          under construction in Irian Jaya, Indonesia to a consortium
          consisting of Duke Energy International LLC, Westcoast Energy
          International Inc. and P.T. Prasarana Nusantara Jaya. The new
          power facilities will support a major expansion of PTFI's copper
          and gold mining and milling operation expected to be completed in
          early 1998.
               P.T. Puncakjaya Power (PJP), the Indonesian operating
          company established by the consortium to own and manage the
          power-related facilities, has purchased PTFI's and Rio Tinto's
          interests in the new power plant and transmission facilities.  In
          addition, the consortium has purchased PTFI's previous 30 percent
          ownership interest in PJP.  Proceeds to PTFI were approximately
          $239 million, net of transaction costs. PTFI will use the
          proceeds to repay outstanding debt and for other general
          corporate purposes.  PJP also purchased Rio Tinto's interest in
          the same joint venture assets for approximately $121 million.
               PJP acquired approximately 194 megawatts of power generation
          facilities in Irian Jaya from PTFI in 1994 and 1995. PJP now owns
          and manages all electric power facilities serving PTFI's mining
          operations in Irian Jaya providing a total capacity of 389
          megawatts.
               PTFI, an affiliate of Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.
          (NYSE:FCX), is one of the world's largest and lowest cost copper
          and gold mining companies.  FCX is engaged in mineral exploration
          and development, mining and milling of copper, gold, and silver
          in Irian Jaya, and the smelting and refining of copper
          concentrates in Spain.  FCX is also involved in a joint venture
          to construct and operate a smelter/refinery in Indonesia.
               Duke Energy International LLC develops, owns and operates
          energy projects worldwide. Its capabilities include natural gas
          exploration, production, processing, transportation and supply,
          along with generation, delivery and marketing of electric power
          and thermal energy. Duke Energy International is an affiliate of
          Duke Energy Corp. (NYSE:DUK), a global energy company with $22
          billion in assets.
               Westcoast Energy International Inc. is a subsidiary of
          Vancouver, British Columbia-based Westcoast Energy Inc. (TSE:W;
          NYSE:WE). Westcoast Energy's interests include natural gas
          gathering and processing facilities, gas transportation and
          storage facilities, gas distribution companies as well as power
          generation, international and energy services businesses.  The
          company has assets of approximately $10 billion.
               P.T. Prasarana Nusantara Jaya (PNJ), an Indonesian limited
          liability company, develops and owns infrastructure-related
          investments in Indonesia and is a wholly owned subsidiary of PT
          Austindo Nusantara Jaya.  PNJ has interests in several power
          generation projects in Indonesia, which are in the early stages
          of development.




                                      SIGNATURE



                    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange
          Act of 1934,  the registrant has  duly caused this  report to  be
          signed  on  its  behalf   by  the  undersigned,  thereunto   duly
          authorized.

                                        FREEPORT-McMoRan COPPER & GOLD INC.


                                        By:  /s/C. Donald Whitmire  
                                             ------------------------------
                                                   C. Donald Whitmire
                                              Controller-Financial Reporting
                                                 (authorized signatory and
                                                Principal Accounting Officer)

          Date:  January 7, 1998
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                               Washington, D.C.  20549

                                      FORM 8-K

                                   CURRENT REPORT

                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

                           Securities Exchange Act of 1934

      Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  January 6, 1998

                         FREEPORT-McMoRan COPPER & GOLD INC.

        Delaware                  1-9916              74-2480931

     (State or other            (Commission         (IRS Employer 
      jurisdiction of            File Number)        Identification
      incorporation or                               Number)
      organization)

                                 1615 Poydras Street
                            New Orleans, Louisiana  70112

     Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (504) 582-4000

          Item 5.  Other Events.

          The following news release was issued by Freeport-McMoRan  Copper
          & Gold Inc. on January 6, 1998:

                    FREEPORT-McMoRan COPPER & GOLD INC. ANNOUNCES
                     SALE OF INDONESIAN ELECTRICAL POWER ASSETS

               NEW ORLEANS, LA., January 6, 1998  -- Freeport-McMoRan
          Copper & Gold Inc. (FCX) announced today that its principal
          mining affiliate, P.T. Freeport Indonesia Company (PTFI), and Rio
          Tinto, PTFI's joint venture partner, have sold their interests in
          a 195-megawatt coal-fired power plant and transmission facilities
          under construction in Irian Jaya, Indonesia to a consortium
          consisting of Duke Energy International LLC, Westcoast Energy
          International Inc. and P.T. Prasarana Nusantara Jaya. The new
          power facilities will support a major expansion of PTFI's copper
          and gold mining and milling operation expected to be completed in
          early 1998.
               P.T. Puncakjaya Power (PJP), the Indonesian operating
          company established by the consortium to own and manage the
          power-related facilities, has purchased PTFI's and Rio Tinto's
          interests in the new power plant and transmission facilities.  In
          addition, the consortium has purchased PTFI's previous 30 percent
          ownership interest in PJP.  Proceeds to PTFI were approximately
          $239 million, net of transaction costs. PTFI will use the
          proceeds to repay outstanding debt and for other general
          corporate purposes.  PJP also purchased Rio Tinto's interest in
          the same joint venture assets for approximately $121 million.
               PJP acquired approximately 194 megawatts of power generation
          facilities in Irian Jaya from PTFI in 1994 and 1995. PJP now owns
          and manages all electric power facilities serving PTFI's mining
          operations in Irian Jaya providing a total capacity of 389
          megawatts.
               PTFI, an affiliate of Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.
          (NYSE:FCX), is one of the world's largest and lowest cost copper
          and gold mining companies.  FCX is engaged in mineral exploration
          and development, mining and milling of copper, gold, and silver
          in Irian Jaya, and the smelting and refining of copper
          concentrates in Spain.  FCX is also involved in a joint venture
          to construct and operate a smelter/refinery in Indonesia.
               Duke Energy International LLC develops, owns and operates
          energy projects worldwide. Its capabilities include natural gas
          exploration, production, processing, transportation and supply,
          along with generation, delivery and marketing of electric power
          and thermal energy. Duke Energy International is an affiliate of
          Duke Energy Corp. (NYSE:DUK), a global energy company with $22
          billion in assets.
               Westcoast Energy International Inc. is a subsidiary of
          Vancouver, British Columbia-based Westcoast Energy Inc. (TSE:W;
          NYSE:WE). Westcoast Energy's interests include natural gas
          gathering and processing facilities, gas transportation and
          storage facilities, gas distribution companies as well as power
          generation, international and energy services businesses.  The
          company has assets of approximately $10 billion.
               P.T. Prasarana Nusantara Jaya (PNJ), an Indonesian limited
          liability company, develops and owns infrastructure-related
          investments in Indonesia and is a wholly owned subsidiary of PT
          Austindo Nusantara Jaya.  PNJ has interests in several power
          generation projects in Indonesia, which are in the early stages
          of development.

                                      SIGNATURE

                    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange
          Act of 1934,  the registrant has  duly caused this  report to  be
          signed  on  its  behalf   by  the  undersigned,  thereunto   duly
          authorized.

                                        FREEPORT-McMoRan COPPER & GOLD INC.

                                        By:  /s/C. Donald Whitmire  
                                             ------------------------------
                                                   C. Donald Whitmire
                                              Controller-Financial Reporting
                                                 (authorized signatory and
                                                Principal Accounting Officer)

          Date:  January 7, 1998