Evaluation Completed, Bahlil Calls Freeport Underground Mining Begins To Be Repaired Next Month

JAKARTA - Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia revealed the latest news regarding the evaluation of the Grasberg Block Cave (GBC) underground mining area belonging to PT Freeport Indonesia.

Bahlil said that currently, the Inspector of Mines from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources is checking the cause of the avalanche of ore mud or wet mock.

"Now the mine inspector is checking again to check what caused it," said Bahlil, quoted on Saturday, October 25.

He added that he had also communicated with the President Director of PT Feport Indonesia, Tony Wenas regarding the right time to return to mining production activities.

Bahlil said the underground mining repair process would begin next month. However, it will begin with a total audit so that exciting events do not happen again in the future.

"We can start production, but I say we will have a total audit first. God willing, in the next month there will be signs of improvement," said Bahlil.

Previously, Freeport-McMoRan Inc (FCX) revealed that the operation of the Grasberg Block Cave (GBC) underground mine will only return to normal in 2027. This is the impact of the landslide incident that occurred since September 8, 2025 ago.

"The target is to return to production levels before the incident in 2027," McMoRan management wrote, quoted Thursday, September 25.

Management said the incident occurred in the PB1C production block but damaged the infrastructure needed to support other production areas.

"PTFI is evaluating the impact of the incident on the production plan. Production projections will be adjusted to the required repair schedule as well as the restart stage and increased production," the management continued.

Based on the management report, the GBC ore body represents 50 percent of the proven reserves and is suspected of PTFI as of December 31, 2024, and about 70 percent of the projected production of copper and gold until 2029.

Meanwhile, PTFI estimates that the unaffected Big Gossan and Deep MLZ mines could restart operations in the middle of the fourth quarter of 2025. while the gradual return of GBC mining operations is scheduled for the first half of 2026.

Thus, PTFI's copper and gold sales will be limited to the fourth quarter of 2025, well below the previous estimate of 445 million pounds of copper and 345,000 gold ounces.