Freeport Can't Export Copper, Director General Of Mineral And Coal Admits He Hasn't Issued A Recommendation Letter

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Antara)

PT Freeport Indonesia admits that it has not been able to export copper concentrate even though it has received a permit to relax copper exports.

In fact, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) has provided a cosentral export relaxation to five companies, namely PT Freeport Indonesia and PT Amman Mineral Nusa Tenggara for copper concentrate, PT Sebuku Iron Laterite Ores for iron iron, and two smelters belonging to PT Kapuas Prima Coal, namely PT Kapuas Prima Cita for lead and PT Kobar Lamandau Mineral for zinc.

Regarding this matter, the Acting Director General of Mineral and Coal at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Muhammad Wafid, confirmed that his party had not yet issued a letter of recommendation for an export permit to PT Freeport Indonesia.

"If we don't get a recommendation from Freeport, we can't give a letter yet," said Wafid, quoted on Thursday, June 22.

Wafid admitted that his party was still processing a recommendation letter which would then be forwarded to the Ministry of Trade so that export permits could be issued.

"The important thing is that the policy already exists after the evaluation of the smelter progress. The regulation on the export ban on June 10, 2023 is three years since Law (UU) Number 3 of 2020, but there is relaxation with adjustments to the progress of the smelter until May 2024," explained Wafid.

He explained that if later the recommendation letter to be issued still refers to the Regulation of the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Number 7 of 2023 regarding the construction of a smelter.

"The evaluation is not far from there. During the compliance with the regulation, we give relaxation in accordance with that and obligations that must be carried out," said Wafid.