President Jokowi Inaugurates Expansion of PT Smelting

President Jokowi inaugurates the expansion of PT. Smelting at Gresik regency, East Java province, Thursday (14/12). (Photo by: BPMI)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo appreciated the expansion carried out by PT Smelting.

The President expressed belief that this expansion will not only increase the production capacity of copper anodes and cathodes but also add value in Indonesia.

“Capacity for the production of copper anodes and cathodes has increased from 1 million tonnes per year to 1.3 million tonnes per year. This shows the commitment of PT Freeport Indonesia, which is working with Mitsubishi, to build downstream industry so that Indonesia can has more added values,” said the President when inaugurating the expansion of PT Smelting, in Gresik regency, East Java province, Thursday (12/14).

He also expressed hope that the construction of the smelter, which is located in the Java Integrated Industrial and Port Estate (JIIPE) Gresik area, can increase the capacity by up to 1.7 million tonnes per year.

“We hope that later with the construction of the smelter at JIIPE Gresik, an additional 1.7 million tonnes per year will be produced. This means that in one year our smelter can produce 3 million tonnes per year and the added value is all in Indonesia,” he said.

The President expressed belief that in the future many copper derivative industries will emerge in the country.

“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,” he said.

Apart from that, President Jokowi also encouraged downstreaming not only to be carried out in mineral materials, but also in plantation and agricultural commodities. According to the President, downstreaming can increase job opportunities and add value in the country.

“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,” he emphasized.

President Jokowi also explained that downstream efforts in every commodity in the country, which aim to increase added value, are considered capable of strengthening national economic growth.

“Our country will enjoy the added values. That is what will make this country a producing country and the power of economic growth is in production, not consumption,” the President remarked. (FID/KS/UN) (EST/MUR)