Bahlil Will Evaluate Freeport Smelter Repairs That Burn Once Every 3 Months

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia (Photo: VOI)

JAKARTA - Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia revealed that he would evaluate the PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) smelter repair process that caught fire some time ago.

"We will see the progress per three months in the progress of the work on the factory that was hit," said Bahlil at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Building, Friday, March 7.

During this repair process, the Government is known to have also granted a copper concentrate export permit to PTFI until June 2025 through the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Regulation Number 6 of 2025.

"I have published the regulation based on the results of the decision of the limited meeting chaired directly by the President. This is valid for six months since we gave the export permit process," Bahlil continued.

Meanwhile, the volume of copper concentrate allowed to be exported by PTFI is 1 million tons.

"I will see later, which is clear until June, we will see the volume, between 1 million tons to 1 million tons more, more or less," he said.

Just so you know, previously Bahlil had also asked PT Freeport Indonesia to complete the repair of his smelter in June 2025.

Bahlil even admitted that he had asked PTFI President Director Tony Wenas to sign a statement letter stating his ability to complete the new meter.

"I have asked Mr. Tony Wenas to sign the statement on the seal notification, so that if it is not finished until June, then he will be sanctioned, given sanctions," Bahlil told the media crew at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Building, Friday, February 21.

However, Bahlil did not mention what sanctions would be given to PTFI if the smelter located in the Gresik Special Economic Zone (SEZ) was not completed.