REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Erick Thohir claimed to have discussed the development of PT Freeport Indonesia's investment and ensured the completion of the smelter construction in Gresik, East Java. This was the point of Erick's meeting with Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Freeport McMoRan, Rhicard Adkerson and President and a member of the Board of Directors of Freeport McMoRan Kathleen L Quirk, at the SOE Ministry office, Jakarta, Tuesday (12/12/2023).

“Downstream because Freeport has been around for decades, only this first time under Mr. Jokowi's government, they started investing in smelters for derivatives,” Erick said after the launch of Employee Well-Being Policy to celebrate Mother's Day at Grha Pertamina, Jakarta, Wednesday (12/13/2023).

Erick said the presence of two Freeport officials was a follow-up to discussions in Washington DC, USA on Nov. Erick said the Gresik Smelter will start operating in the near future.

“For phase I, one-two today we will review, for later phase two, God willing may be completed, but it will start operating normally if the plant needs two or three months,” Erick said.

Erick said the operation of the Gresik smelter was a historic achievement. This is in line with Indonesia's commitment to accelerate downstream.

“This is amazing, that during this time raw goods were sent to many countries, now we are doing downstream here. So increased value or derivatives can be in Indonesia now, not shipped to other countries continuously,” Erick said.