Copper products don't meet quality expectations<\/p>\n
SYDNEY (Dow Jones): Indonesia's pioneer copper smelter, PT.
\nSmelting Copper Co., has delayed its commercial production of
\ncopper cathodes as the initial batch of production hasn't met
\ndesign quality, an official with Mitsubishi Corp. in Tokyo told
\nDow Jones Newswires on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Mitsubishi Corp. has a 9.5 percent stake in the company and is
\nresponsible for the marketing of the PT. Smelting production.<\/p>\n
Mitsubishi Materials Corp. has a 60.5 percent stake in the
\ncompany; PT Freeport Indonesia has 25 percent; and Nippon Mining
\n& Metals Corp. owns the balance.<\/p>\n
\"Some cathodes are coming out from the smelter, but the
\nquality is not good enough; not according to design quality,\" the
\nofficial said.<\/p>\n
Depending on test results, commercial production is now seen
\nstarting in late March. \"There shouldn't be a problem to ship in
\nApril,\" he said.<\/p>\n
A batch of copper cathodes was sent to Tokyo to test its
\nsuitability for making rods and wires. The batch of cathodes, he
\nsaid, had a high level of impurities.<\/p>\n
The official stressed that project-wise, PT. Smelting remained
\non schedule.<\/p>\n
PT Smelting's customers, he said, have expressed willingness
\nto wait for the cathodes.<\/p>\n
The company has commitments to ship 30,000 metric tons to
\ncustomers in Asia during the first quarter of 1999. Shipments
\nwill be in tranches of 10,000 tons.<\/p>\n
PT. Smelting Copper located in Gresik, East Java, began
\noperations in October last year amid political and economic
\nuncertainties in Indonesia. It has an installed production
\ncapacity of 200,000 tons.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/copper-products-dont-meet-quality-expectations-1447893297",
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