Freeport smelter in Gresik to resume operations in September

PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) is targeting September 2026 for the operational restart of its copper cathode smelter located in the Java Integrated Industrial and Port Estate (JIIPE) in Gresik, East Java. The company anticipates resuming concentrate processing in August, paving the way for full production the following month.

The smelter's operations were halted in September 2025 after a landslide incident at the Grasberg Block Cave (GBC) underground mine disrupted the supply of concentrate. During the first half of 2026, the GBC mine operated at approximately 50 percent of its normal capacity, which was only sufficient to supply PT Smelting, Freeport's first smelter.

PTFI President Director Tony Wenas explained that the Gresik smelter will receive concentrate supply starting in the second half of 2026 as the GBC mine's production capacity is projected to increase to 65 percent. He estimates that the Gresik smelter will process about 15 percent of the concentrate from the GBC mine, with this figure increasing gradually throughout 2026.

Looking ahead, Freeport Indonesia aims to restore the GBC mine's production capacity to 100 percent by 2028. Capacity is expected to reach 75 percent by the first half of 2027, with full recovery anticipated in the second half of that year. This phased recovery plan is crucial for ensuring a stable supply chain for both of Freeport's smelters.