Good News From Erick Thohir: In 6 Months To Inaugurate The Use Of 5G Technology In The Freeport Mine Area, Jokowi Is Expected To Witness

Workers at the Freeport Indonesia mine. (Photo: Doc. Freeport Indonesia)

JAKARTA - Minister of State-Owned Enterprises, Erick Thohir, said PT Freeport Indonesia and PT Telkom Indonesia would use 5G technology in the mining sector. Erick also said that this innovation was the first in the Southeast Asia (ASEAN) region.

According to Erick, this process will be prepared within the next six months. He explained that the purpose of using technology is to protect workers who mine underground.

"In six months, we expect the President to be present at Freeport to witness the inauguration of 5G mining, which is the first in Southeast Asia for Freeport to cooperate with the Telkom Group. Of course, the function of 5G mining is to maintain operational security", said Erick at the groundbreaking of the smelter in the Gresik Special Economic Zone (SEZ), Gresik Regency, East Java, Tuesday, October 12.

In carrying out mining, said Erick, the safety of workers is the company's priority. So according to him, innovation is created that combines communication connectivity and mining equipment used in the ground.

Furthermore, Erick explained that the mining trucks used to transport the excavated products will also be connected to the system. The technology is believed to be able to reduce the risk of work accidents that occur in the mining world.

"What is interesting in 5G mining is increasing connectivity rather than integration from hyperconnect networks and it is planned that there will be sophistication of autonomous cars or the sophistication of large trucks being carried out. We are trying to maximize this preparation between PT Freeport and Telkom", he explained.

For information, PT Freeport Indonesia's revenue rose more than 100 percent after its share ownership was controlled by Indonesia as much as 51 percent. Freeport's performance has continued to improve in the past year.

In 2020, Freeport will earn IDR 50 trillion in revenue. Meanwhile, this year's revenue is projected to reach IDR 105 trillion. Net profit also increased, wherein 2020 the company was able to record a profit of IDR 10 trillion. Meanwhile, in 2021 it is planned that until December it will reach IDR 40 trillion.