Freeport Indonesia, operator of Grasberg, the world’s second-biggest copper mine, expects to start construction of a new smelter in August, its chief executive said on Wednesday.
Front-end engineering and design for the $3-billion smelter has been concluded and ground preparation is expected to finish in around three months, said Tony Wenas, chief executive of PT Freeport Indonesia, a unit of Freeport-McMoran.
Construction of a smelter is part of Freeport-McMoran’s deal with the Indonesian government to maintain its mining rights at Grasberg until 2041, and the US company has said it is committed to building one by December 21, 2023.