REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, MEMPAWAH - President Joko Widodo says MIND ID group's bauxite smelting plant project is a neat form of state-owned synergy. This collaboration between PT Indonesia Asahan Aluminium (Inalum) and PT Aneka Tambang Tbk (ANTAM) is able to be a motor for cooperation and other collaborations for the welfare of the public.
“All. Everything related to downstream, cooperation of state-owned enterprises with private, okay. Cooperation of SOEs with SOEs, okay. It's all opened up. Cooperation with domestic private, okay. Cooperation with outside private, okay. State-owned and private enterprises, all of them,” Jokowi said at the Inauguration of Smelter Grade Alumina Refinery (SGAR) on Tuesday (24/9/2024).
On the same occasion, SOE Minister Erick Thohir said the downstream mineralization was an effort in boosting economic growth. Moreover, the SGAR project is the fruit of the work of the nation's children, where the smelter was formed by two large state-owned mines in Indonesia.
“Thank God, on the second day of accompanying President Jokowi, I had the opportunity to make sure that downstream really happened. Today SOEs, through Inalum and ANTAM, have full control. Although the market remains open and competes freely, it is important for us to ensure that downstream is truly happening in Indonesia,” Erick said.
Mind ID President Director Hendi Prio Santoso stressed SGAR is a manifestation of MIND ID's commitment in supporting the downstream vision proposed by the government. Through SGAR, Indonesia is now not only exporting raw minerals, but also to save foreign exchange through the production of alumina as a raw material for aluminum, which is still imported.
“The operation of SGAR is an important achievement in the metal minerals industry in Indonesia. We are grateful that at MIND ID, we are able to carry out full integration from upstream to downstream, from bauxite, alumina, to aluminum, so that we are ready to support the development of the national economy,” Hendi said.
Hendi explained that this form of synergy between SOEs is an excellent effort. Antam as a responsible supply holder of bauxite and Inalum in aluminum processing. These two SOEs also directly proceeded with phase two development steps for greater capacity.