Govt Extends Freeport Export License; Decides Contract in 6 Months
26 January 2015 13:30 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The government yesterday decided to extend PT Freeport Indonesia's export license for six months. As for the US miner's contract extension, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said said the government has yet to make a decision.
According to Sudirman, for the next six months the government and Freeport will seek new agreement points such as the acceleration of the smelter development in Papua.
Mineral and Coal director general R. Sukhyar said the memorandum of understanding (MoU) is aimed at adding new articles to the contract amendment, with the goal of increasing Freeport's contribution for Papua's welfare. According to Sukhyar, the MoU extension allows the government to cancel Freeport's export license revocation.
The cancellation was also decided after Freeport was regarding as having shown some commitment in building concentrate smelters.
On Thursday last week, Freeport decided on the location of its mineral smelter. Freeport Indonesia president director Maroef Sjamsuddin said the new smelter will be built on an area of 60 hectares, owned by PT Petrokimia Gresik.
KHAIRUL ANAM | ROBBY IRFANI