"We want a fairer deal. We wish Indonesia to be treated fairly and also wish for transparency," Rizal Ramli said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - A senior minister said on Thursday that Indonesia wants to be treated fairly by foreign investors, including mining company Freeport McMoran Inc., with regards to the exploitation of its natural resources.

The Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs, Rizal Ramli, who also handles the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources made the statement during a meeting with U.S. business executives, including from Freeport McMoran Inc. grouped at the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council.

"We want a fairer deal. We wish Indonesia to be treated fairly and also wish for transparency. I am convinced if it is implemented it will also be good for the foreign companies operating in Indonesia," he said.

Especially with regards to Freeport, which was at the meeting represented by Senior Vice President Tim Russel King, Rizal, who was a Chief Economic Minister during the government of former President Abdurrahman Wahid, asked the company to improve its business practices in Indonesia.

He also asked the company to increase the royalty paid to the Indonesian government, install a waste-management system to prevent environmental pollution, divest and carry out development of the downstream industry by building a smelter in Indonesia.

"We said just now that if Freeport meets the Indonesian governments request, it will not be impossible for an agreement to be reached. In the past, every time a contract is to be extended, weird things happen," he stated.

PT Freeport Indonesias working contract signed in 1991 will have expired in 2021, but the company has asked for an extension until 2041 to return its investment.

Rizal added that according to President Joko Widodos statement based on Government Regulation Number 77 of 2014 on implementation of coal and mineral mining activities, Freeports contract will only be extended two days before it expires or in 2019.

Regarding Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Sudirman Saids statement that a politician had intervened in connection with the extension of Freeports contract, Rizal said, "Just ask him about it. Do not spread rumors, just reveal it. If it is a fact, he must name the person. It will certainly become a hot topic. Do not spread rumors."

He said it was not impossible that certain persons had an interest in the extension of the U.S. mining companys contract, but if what Sudirman said was true he asked Sudirman to reveal the details.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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