Freeport Waits For Evaluation Of Copper Concentrat Export Permits, Bahlil: No Submission

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia. (Photo: Doc. ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia admitted that until now his ministry has not received an application for an extension of the export license for copper concentrates from PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI).

Even though the export license for PTFI is only valid until September 16.

Bahlil assessed that the condition of PTFI's character has been completed because until now there has been no submission letter for an export extension from Freeport.

"Until today there has been no submission and if there is no submission, I think everything is good," Bahlil told the media crew at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Building, Friday, August 29.

Based on the information he received, Bahlil said that until now the production capacity of PT Freeport's smelter located in Gresik has reached 70 to 80 percent of its supposed capacity.

"It's been 70-80 percent maximal," he continued.

Meanwhile, previously the President Director of PTFI Tony Wenas revealed that his party was still waiting for an evaluation from the government regarding the continuation of the copper concentrate export license. Just so you know, the government only gave export permits until September 16, 2025.

The granting of this export permit follows a smelter fire that occurred some time ago and a smelter that is not yet operating at full capacity.

"It will be evaluated by the government, so according to the Ministerial Decree, it will be evaluated when it ends. That's what we are waiting for the results of the evaluation from the government," said Tony, Wednesday, August 27.

Dia menambahkan, Pabrik Asam Sulfat yang sebelumnya mengalami kebakaran pada Oktober 2024 telah mulai beroperasi dan menghasilkan katoda tembaga sebesar 5.500 ton, emasnya sebesar 12.5 ton, perak sebesar lebih dari 20 ton.

"Dan diharapkan akhir tahun ini bisa sekitar 600.000 ton konsentrat itu dimurnikan di smelter baru," tandas dia.

He added that the Sulawesi Asam Factory, which previously experienced a fire in October 2024, had started operating and produced a copper cathode of 5,500 tons, gold of 12.5 tons, silver of more than 20 tons.

"And it is hoped that by the end of this year around 600,000 tons of concentrate will be purified in the new smelter," he said.