The copper production has decreased, I think everyone already knows that Freeport last year entered a transition period from open mining to underground. Hopefully, this year's production will increase and in 2022 it can reach its peakJakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources recorded copper production in 2019 reached only 176,400 tons, which was a decrease from 2018 production that reached 230,923 tons. The decline in copper production was due to PT Freeport Indonesia's production transition from open mining to underground mining, the Ministry's Director General of Mineral and Coal Mining Bambang Gatot Ariyono stated here Thursday.
"The copper production has decreased, I think everyone already knows that Freeport last year entered a transition period from open mining to underground. Hopefully, this year's production will increase and in 2022 it can reach its peak," Ariyono said.
For this year, the copper production target is set at 291,000 tons.
Based on the ministry’s record, apart from copper, the production of several other mining commodities also declined. For instance, gold production has also dropped from 134.95 tons in 2018 to 108.2 tons in 2019. Therefore, gold production in 2020 is only targeted to reach 120 tons.
Tin production also decreased from 83,015 tons in 2018 to 76,100 tons in 2019. In 2020, tin production is targeted at 70,000 tons.
Moreover, matte nickel production also dropped from 75,708 tons in 2018 to 71,000 tons in 2019, although the decline was not too significant. In 2020, matte nickel production is targeted to increase to 78,000 tons.
Meanwhile, silver production increased from 302.74 tons in 2018 to 481.5 tons in 2019. However, silver production this year is only targeted to reach 120 tons.
Besides, processed nickel commodity increased significantly from 857,166 tons to 1.8 million tons in 2019, and is targeted to increase up to two million tons in 2020.
"With more smelters being built, we have increased production of processed nickel from 2016 to 2020," he mentioned.
Meanwhile, the realization of coal production reached 610 million tons with the Domestic Market Obligation (DMO) reaching 138 million tons, Ariyono stated.
The coal production this year is targeted to reach 550 million tons with consideration of potential export and domestic markets, optimal production levels. Such target was made to maintain price stability, overcome trade balance deficit, and adjust to the non-tax state revenue target of Rp44.39 trillion.
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Reporter: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga, Ade Irma
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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