ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA — Indonesian mining company PT Amman Mineral Nusa Tenggara (AMMAN) is targeting 16 tons of gold production in 2026, supported by a sharp increase in copper concentrate output as its newly commissioned copper smelter ramps up operations.
The company projects copper concentrate production to reach 1.29 million dry metric tons (DMT) under its 2026 Work Plan and Budget (RKAB), nearly tripling from 453,400 DMT produced in 2025. The increase reflects AMMAN’s transition into a fully integrated mining and mineral processing company while strengthening Indonesia’s downstream industrialization agenda.
Speaking before Commission XII of Indonesia’s House of Representatives, AMMAN President Director Rachmat Makkasau said the company’s copper smelter has successfully resumed operations and continues to increase processing capacity.
“Since April 2026, operations have resumed and the ramp-up process has progressed smoothly. By June, the smelter was already capable of processing all concentrate produced from our mining operations,” he said.
For 2026, AMMAN is targeting production of 162,000 tons of copper cathode, 16 tons of gold, 45 tons of silver, 91 tons of selenium, 1.96 tons of tellurium, and 572,000 tons of sulfuric acid, highlighting the growing contribution of its downstream processing facilities.
During the first half of 2026, the company produced approximately 46,000 tons of copper cathode, 3.7 tons of gold, 14.6 tons of silver, 24 tons of selenium, and nearly 422,000 tons of sulfuric acid, indicating that production is progressing in line with its annual targets.
Batu Hijau Drives Higher Output
The production rebound is also being fueled by increased mining activity at the Batu Hijau copper-gold mine in West Nusa Tenggara.
According to Rachmat, the lower production recorded in 2025 was a planned consequence of intensive waste stripping during Phase 8 of the mine development program, which temporarily reduced ore extraction while preparing access to richer mineral reserves.
With the stripping phase largely completed, AMMAN expects significantly higher ore production beginning in 2026, supporting stronger output over the coming years.
The company forecasts copper concentrate production to remain above one million DMT annually, reaching around 1.20 million DMT in 2027, 1.18 million DMT in 2028, and 1.11 million DMT in 2029.
Domestic Priority, Global Opportunity
AMMAN said refined products will continue to prioritize Indonesia’s domestic market in line with the government’s downstream mineral policy. However, exports are expected to increase once the smelter reaches full design capacity.
“Nearly all of our production is currently supplied to the domestic market. Once production reaches optimal capacity, we expect exports—particularly copper cathodes—to become an important part of our business,” Rachmat said.
The production expansion marks another milestone in Indonesia’s efforts to move beyond raw mineral exports and establish itself as a global supplier of higher-value refined metals.
As one of the country’s largest integrated mining companies, AMMAN is expected to play an increasingly important role in global copper and precious metals supply chains amid rising demand driven by energy transition and advanced manufacturing industries. (AT Network)
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