Minister Of Energy And Mineral Resources Ensures Freeport Smelters Operate This Year

Smelter (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Arifin Tasrif confirmed that the PT Freeport Indonesia smelter in the JIIPE area, Gresik, East Java will operate according to the specified time, namely June 2024.

This was conveyed by Arifin during his working visit to the Smelter of PT Freeport Indonesia in the JIIPE area, Gresik, East Java on Thursday, February 29.

"I am very happy to see the progress of the smelter construction which has reached the final stage. This is proof of the government's commitment to encouraging downstreaming of minerals and coal," said Arifin, quoted on Friday, March 1. Arifin said, the construction of this smelter will increase the added value of minerals and coal. In addition, it will also create new jobs for the surrounding community and help increase state revenue.

"The government will continue to provide full support to the construction of smelters throughout Indonesia. We hope this smelter can provide benefits to the community and the country," said Arifin.

Vice President Director of PT Freeport Indonesia Jenpino Ngabdi on the same occasion said the smelter construction went smoothly and according to the target.

"The current smelter construction progress is in accordance with the plan and is ready to operate in June 2024. The PTFI smelter will start producing in August 2024 and then ramp up will reach full capacity at the end of December 2024," said Jenpino.

This project is PTFI's second smelter. The first smelter was built in 1996 and managed by PT Smelting with an investment value of up to US$3.1 billion or equivalent to Rp48 trillion as of the end of December 2023.

The copper smelter with the largest Design Single Line in the world will be able to purify the copper concentrate with a production capacity of 1.7 million tons and produce copper cathodes of up to 600,000 tons per year. The main smelter products are the copper cathode, pure gold and silver bullion cathodes, and PGM (Platinum Group Metal). Side products include sulfate, gypsum, and lead acids.