Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia on the Inauguration of Expansion of PT Smelting at Gresik Regency, East Java Province, December 14, 2023

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.
Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,
Good afternoon,
May peace be upon us all.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
I really appreciate and put respect to what PT Smelting has done for its expansion so that the capacity for copper anode and cathode production has increased from 1 million tons per year to 1.3 million tons per year. This shows the commitment of PT Freeport Indonesia which is partnering with Mitsubishi to build downstream industry, so that Indonesia can obtain the added values. The most important thing is that Indonesia has the added values.

We hope that later with the construction of the smelter at JIIPE Gresik, an additional production of 1.7 million tons per year will be achieved. This means that in one year our smelter can produce 3 million tons per year and the added value is all in Indonesia. That way, new industries will emerge, including the ones which are still in the development process for copper foil.  Later many companies will eye our country to build copper derivative industries.

Not only copper, not only nickel, not only bauxite, not only tin but also other commodities.  Everything must be downstreamed so that we have added value and create job opportunities in our country, be it in plantations, agriculture, or fisheries, everything. Don’t let us send any more minerals, plantation materials, plantation and agricultural commodities in raw form. They must be at least in semi-finished or finished goods.

That concludes my remarks on this auspicious occasion. By saying bismillahirrahmanirrahim, this afternoon I inaugurate the expansion of PT Smelting Gresik Regency, East Java Province.

I thank you.
Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

(EST/MUR)