59th Anniversary of Freeport: Reflections to Revive Safe and Sustainable Operations
PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) marked its 59th anniversary with deep reflection and tribute to remember the nine employees who perished in incidents over the past year.
During the commemoration events, PTFI’s management paid respects to seven employees who died due to a wet material slide incident in the underground Grasberg Block Cave (GBC) mining area on 8 September 2025, as well as two employees who died in two shooting incidents in February and March 2026.
“We remember them with profound sorrow and respect. Losing family members is deeply tragic for all of us. We hope that in the future, no similar incidents occur, whether slides or shootings, or other events that endanger safety,” said PTFI President Director Tony Wenas in a press release on Thursday (9/4/2026).
On that occasion, he also inspected the open-pit Grasberg mine and the underground Deep Mill Level Zone (DMLZ) mine, and laid wreaths as a tribute to the victims.
“Entering its 59th year, PTFI records a long journey as one of the companies with the longest operating history in Indonesia. 59 years is no short time. Few companies, especially foreign investments, can survive this long in Indonesia,” he said.
Throughout 2025, PTFI contributed around Rp 70 trillion to the state in the form of taxes, royalties, dividends, and other revenues.
In addition, PTFI continues to commit to providing direct benefits to communities around its operational areas through various social investment programmes.
In 2025, the value of PTFI’s social investments reached nearly Rp 2 trillion and will continue to increase by around 100 million US dollars, or equivalent to Rp 1.5 trillion per year until the completion of mining operations.
“Looking ahead, we are optimistic that this contribution can continue to grow, in line with the still relatively high mineral commodity prices. In addition, (PTFI) also consistently implements strict safety and operational standards as part of its commitment to responsible mining practices,” Tony stated.
It is known that PTFI’s current operations are still in the recovery phase post-incidents, with production levels reaching around 40–50 percent.
The company targets production to return close to 100 percent by the end of 2026 and achieve full capacity in early quarter 2027.
“We are committed to delivering safe, secure, and sustainable production, so that the maximum benefits can continue to be felt by the nation and state, as well as the communities around the operational areas. We will continue to grow and develop together with the community until the completion of mining operations,” he emphasised.