PT ANTAM and Freeport Indonesia have signed an MoU to work on the feasibility of a new copper smelter at the Grasberg mine.
Signed today in Jakarta, ANTAM’s president Tato Miraza said the “signing of this MoU with PT Freeport Indonesia reflects both companies’ commitment to support the intention of Law Number 4 Year 2009 to increase and optimise the value of minerals through domestic mineral processing and refining”.
Earlier this year Indonesia implemented a ban on unrefined mineral exports in a bid to support domestic processing.
This new MoU between the two miners follows on from these new mining laws.
ANTAM has already moved forward in keeping downstream processing within Indonesia’s borders, with its Tayan chemical grade alumina plant already in the commissioning phase.
It is also working on its Pomalaa ferronickel plants expansion project as well.