PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) is developing a new underground mine\nblock, Kucing Liar. The development of the new mine is projected to\nrequire total investment of up to Rp72 trillion.<\/p>\n
PTFI President Director Tony Wenas explained that the construction\nprocess for the new mine area is ongoing. This is also in line with the\ncompany\u2019s long-term operational targets.<\/p>\n
Tony emphasised that the large investment for the Kucing Liar Block\nis part of the sustainability programme for the country.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe development of the Kucing Liar underground mine, which will\nbecome one of the company\u2019s main future production sources, is\ncontinuing. Investment in this underground mine has reached Rp25\ntrillion and will ultimately total Rp72 trillion,\u201d he explained during\nthe 81st Independence Day ceremony in Tembagapura, Mimika Regency,\nCentral Papua, on Monday (17\/8\/2026).<\/p>\n
The Kucing Liar Block mine project is targeted to enter the\nproduction phase in 2029, with projected output of 130,000 tonnes of ore\nper day. The mine is designed to support the company\u2019s total production\ncapacity so that it can continue to achieve the target level of 240,000\ntonnes of ore per day.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis mine is projected to produce more than 7 billion pounds of\ncopper and 6 million ounces of gold over its operational life. This\ninvestment shows that amid the recovery period, Freeport Indonesia\ncontinues to move forward,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
The presence of the Kucing Liar block is considered important to\noffset the projected natural production decline at the Grasberg Block\nCave (GBC) mine in the future.<\/p>\n
If the company also obtains certainty regarding the extension of its\nSpecial Mining Business Permit (IUPK) after 2041, the company also plans\nto conduct further exploration to find potential new reserves beyond the\ncurrent blocks.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis will truly support us because GBC will also eventually be\ndepleted, it will decline, so we can continue to stabilise production at\nthe level of 240,000 tonnes of ore per day,\u201d he stressed.<\/p>\n
As is known, in Freeport-McMoRan\u2019s (FCX) first half 2026 report, as\nof 30 June 2026, PTFI had invested approximately US$1.4 billion, or\naround Rp24.9 trillion, for the development of the Kucing Liar mine\nproject.<\/p>\n
PTFI itself began developing the new underground mine located in the\nGrasberg area, Central Papua, in 2022. Initially, the mine was targeted\nto operate in 2028, but was pushed back to 2029 due to a wet material\nlandslide incident at the Grasberg Block Cave (GBC) in September\n2025.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince 2022, PTFI has carried out long-term mine development\nactivities at the Kucing Liar deposit located within the Grasberg\nminerals district,\u201d Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) wrote in its first half 2026\nperformance report.<\/p>\n
According to the FCX report, production from the Kucing Liar mine is\ntargeted to begin ramping up around 2030 until it reaches the design\ncapacity of approximately 130,000 metric tonnes of ore per day.<\/p>\n
At full operation, Kucing Liar is estimated to be capable of\nproducing an average of 750 million pounds of copper and approximately\n735,000 ounces of gold per year. This is considered one of the company\u2019s\nstrategies to maintain production sustainability in the Grasberg\narea.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/freeport-develops-new-mine-investment-could-reach-rp72-trillion-1787057525", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }