Lamseen – Tony Wenas, the President Director of PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI), has announced that Freeport copper concentrate processing facility, also known as the Gresik Smelter, is ready to commence production. He estimates that the copper smelter could be officially inaugurate by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) next week.
“The Gresik Copper Smelter is operational and ready for production. We hope it can be inaugurate by the President next week.” Tony mentioned during a visit to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources office in Jakarta on Thursday, August 22, 2024.
When asked about the certainty of the inauguration schedule, Tony expressed hope that it would align with President Jokowi’s availability. “It depends on his schedule. We are hopeful,” he said.
The single-line copper concentrate smelter locate in Gresik, East Java, was previously inaugurate on June 27, 2024. However, that inauguration was part of the commissioning phase, which included testing, trials, and verification of equipment and systems. This phase is expect to last approximately 6-10 weeks to ensure everything is design, installed, and operated substantially as intended.
The PTFI smelter, claimed to be the largest single-line design in the world. This smelter is set to process 1.7 million tons of copper concentrate annually. It will also produce other products such as gold and silver bullion, platinum group metals, sulfuric acid, slag, gypsum, and lead.
The copper produced by this smelter will be a key component in the electric vehicle ecosystem. Alongside nickel, aluminum, cobalt, and lithium. Production is slated to start in August, with a project full capacity of 600,000 tons per year expected by the end of December 2024.
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PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) aims to contribute USD 5.6 billion, or approximately Rp 90 trillion, to the state coffers this year. This projection reflects an improvement in their performance. The contribution to the state will come from various sources, including taxes, dividends, and royalties. This figure represents an increase from PTFI’s contribution of Rp 41 trillion in 2023.
“For 2024, we project a direct benefit to the state of USD 5.6 billion, nearly Rp 90 trillion,” stated Tony Wenas, President Director of PT Freeport Indonesia, on Saturday, August 17, 2024.
This contribution includes direct benefits to areas surrounding PTFI’s operations, particularly in Papua. Over 10 percent of this amount is allocated to the region.
“Among this, Rp 10 trillion will be receive by Mimika Regency, Central Papua Province, and other districts in Central Papua,” Tony added.
Assuming the state contribution of Rp 90 trillion, each Freeport Indonesia employee’s contribution to the state would be approximately Rp 3 billion.
“This is achievable due to the harmonious cooperation among all elements within PTFI, with ‘Sincere’ as our core value. ‘Continuing to Create for Indonesia’ is the theme we have set for PTFI’s 57th anniversary this year,” the company stated.
In 2023, PTFI contributed USD 2.7 billion, or about Rp 41 trillion, to the state. This includes taxes, royalties, dividends, and other payments, with Rp 9.1 trillion of that being direct benefits receive by Papua.
Additionally, PTFI’s indirect benefits to Indonesia in 2023 totaled USD 4.7 billion, approximately Rp 70 trillion. These benefits include employee wages, domestic purchases, community development, regional infrastructure, and domestic investments.
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