Indonesian Minister backs plans for new copper smelter in Papua
An Indonesian cabinet minister is pushing for American mining giant Freeport McMoRan to be allowed to expand its copper concentrate output so as to supply a planned smelter in the easternmost region of Papua, he said on Wednesday.
Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said many people in the provinces of Papua and West Papua had sought construction of what would be the first smelter in a region home to Freeport's Grasberg copper and gold mine.
"I am in intense communication with the president, following the requests from our Papuan friends to have a smelter," the minister told an online media briefing.