Freeport Indonesia Targets Full Production Recovery by End of 2027

PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) aims to fully restore its production capacity by the end of 2027, following a landslide at its Grasberg Block Cave (GBC) underground mine. The incident, which occurred on September 8, 2025, halted concentrate supply to the smelter in Gresik, forcing its temporary closure in December 2025.

During the smelter's downtime, PTFI conducted maintenance and upgrades to ensure all systems are ready for full operation. The new smelter is scheduled to begin processing concentrate from Papua in September 2026, with a ramp-up period extending to the end of the year. "This year, we will still reach 65 percent of total capacity. The first half of next year will reach 75 percent of capacity, and by the end of 2027, we will reach 100 percent capacity," stated PTFI President Director Tony Wenas during a hearing with Commission XII of the DPR RI.

Production is projected to rise significantly in the coming years. In 2026, PTFI anticipates producing around 800 million pounds of copper and 700,000 ounces of gold. This is expected to increase to 1.2 billion pounds of copper and 1 million ounces of gold in 2027, and further to 1.6 billion pounds of copper and 1.4 million ounces of gold by 2028. Daily ore production is also set to increase from the current 124,000 tons to 208,000 tons by 2027 and eventually 226,000 tons by 2029.

To sustain long-term production, PTFI is developing the Kucing Liar mine, which is slated to begin operations in 2029. This new mine will compensate for the declining tonnage from the Deep Main Ore Zone (DMLZ). The development of Kucing Liar aims to maintain a daily ore production rate of approximately 220,000 tons in the long run, ensuring the company's continued output.

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This year, we will still reach 65 percent of total capacity. The first half of next year will reach 75 percent of capacity, and by the end of 2027, we will reach 100 percent capacity.