ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA – The PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) Smelter Development Project in the JIIPE Area, Gresik, East Java is ready to operate in June 2024.
This was confirmed when the Indonesian Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Arifin Tasrif, paid a working visit to the PT Freeport Indonesia Smelter, on Thursday, February 29 2024.
Minister Arifin appreciated the progress of the smelter construction which was going well. He is optimistic that this smelter will be able to operate according to the targets that have been set.
“I am very happy to see the progress of the smelter construction which has reached the final stage. This is proof of the government’s commitment to encouraging the downstreaming of minerals and coal,” said Arifin.
Minister Arifin explained that the construction of this smelter has several important benefits for Indonesia.
First, the smelter will increase the added value of minerals and coal. Second, the smelter will create new jobs for the local community. Third, the smelter will help increase state income.
“The government will continue to provide full support for the construction of smelters throughout Indonesia. We hope that these smelters can provide benefits to society and the country,” stressed Minister Arifin.
Deputy President Director of PT Freeport Indonesia Jenpino Ngabdi on the same occasion said that the smelter construction was running smoothly and on target.
“The current progress of the smelter construction is according to plan and will be ready to operate in June 2024. The PTFI smelter will start production in August 2024 and then ramp up to reach full capacity at the end of December 2024,” said Jenpino.
This project is PTFI’s second smelter. The first smelter was built in 1996 and is managed by PT Smelting with an investment value of up to $3.1 billion as of the end of December 2023.
The copper smelter with the largest Single Line Design in the world will be able to refine copper concentrate with a production capacity of 1.7 million tons and produce up to 600,000 tons of copper cathode per year. The smelter’s main products are copper cathodes, pure gold and silver bars, and PGM (Platinum Group Metal). By-products include sulfuric acid, gypsum, and lead. (AT Network)
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