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Govt may let Freeport export copper beyond deadline
The government is considering to allow PT Freeport Indonesia to continue shipping copper concentrate out of the country despite an export ban meant to kick in after June.
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A heavy vehicle passes through gold and copper mining company PT Freeport Indonesia’s (PTFI) mining site in Grasberg, Mimika, Central Papua, in 2016. (thejakartapost.com/Nethy Dharma Somba)
T
he government says it may allow gold and copper mining company PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) to continue exporting copper concentrate despite a ban meant to kick in after June.
The 2020 Mining Law stipulates an end of such shipments to take effect three years after the law came into effect, which would be on July 1 this year.
Currently, PTFI has a copper export quota of 2.3 million tonnes.
Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto told The Jakarta Post on Thursday that a continuation of exports may be considered, depending on the progress made on PTFI’s smelter. He said the government would continue to look closely at the development.
“If the exports [are stopped] but the refinery is not completed, what are we going to do?” Airlangga said in an interview at his office.
A similar consideration would apply with regard to the export of other minerals, he said, adding that shipments would all depend on the progress and readiness of the smelting industry for the respective minerals.
“We can’t just ban [the exports] while we don’t have the smelter yet. What are you going to do? There have to be smelters built as well,” Airlangga said.
