Freeport Celebrates Indonesia's 81st Independence Day from Papua to Gresik Smelter

From the mountains of Papua to the smelter in Gresik, the extended family of PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) held a Red and White flag-raising ceremony to commemorate the 81st Anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia under the spirit of One Freeport: From Eastern Indonesia, We Rise Together, simultaneously at six PTFI work sites across three provinces: Central Papua, East Java, and DKI Jakarta.

PTFI President Director Tony Wenas acted as Ceremony Inspector at the Tembagapura football pitch, joined by management and employees from Kuala Kencana (Mimika Regency), PTFI’s Representative Office in Nabire (Nabire Regency), the PTFI Smelter and PT Smelting (Gresik Regency), and PTFI’s Jakarta office.

The simultaneous ceremony symbolised the unity of the PTFI family from upstream to downstream in a single One Freeport spirit. The national theme was Indonesia Berdaulat, Adil dan Makmur (A Sovereign, Just and Prosperous Indonesia), while PTFI’s sub-theme was One Freeport: From Eastern Indonesia, We Rise Together.

President Director Tony Wenas said the spirit of Rising Together for PTFI is reflected in the recovery process of underground mining operations as well as the determination of all employees to continue contributing to Indonesia.

“Freeport Indonesia must be able to rise stronger. With the spirit of togetherness, resilience, and unwavering commitment to safety, I am confident we will be able to get through this period and move towards a better future for the company, workers, communities, stakeholders, and for the nation and state,” Tony said in a written statement on Monday (17/8/2026).

This year’s independence commemoration holds special meaning for PTFI. Since beginning operations in 1973, PTFI has never missed holding a Red and White flag-raising ceremony as a form of respect for the struggle of heroes and as a manifestation of commitment as part of the Indonesian nation. Entering its 53rd year, this year’s ceremony became a momentum to affirm the spirit of unity and mutual cooperation of the PTFI family.

According to Tony, this spirit is even stronger because PTFI is a large family of more than 30,000 employees from various regions, ethnicities, religions, and cultures across Indonesia.

“This diversity is our strength. With various ethnic groups from Sabang to Merauke, and from Miangas to Rote, though tested many times, by God’s grace, we have not been torn apart, but have become even more closely united, even more solid as one big family, One Freeport,” he said.

Amid the recovery process, there are a number of important achievements demonstrating PTFI’s commitment to continue investing and growing with Indonesia in the long term. Tony said that thanks to the hard work of the entire team and support from various parties, production capacity is projected to reach around 65 per cent by the end of the second half of this year. PTFI is targeting production of around 800 million pounds of copper and 700 thousand ounces of gold.

“Going forward, production capacity is expected to increase to around 75 per cent by mid-2027, and gradually approach full production capacity by the end of 2027,” Tony said.

The operational recovery is important not only for the sustainability of the company’s activities, but also for the sustainability of PTFI’s contribution to the state. Throughout 2025, PTFI contributed Rp75 trillion to the state, including around Rp13 trillion which is the share of the Mimika Regency government, Central Papua Province and other regencies in Central Papua.

“This contribution reflects our unwavering commitment to providing real benefits for the state and society, despite the various challenges we face. And when we eventually reach 100 per cent production capacity, PTFI’s contribution to the state will reach more than Rp100 trillion per year,” Tony said.

For PTFI, the spirit of rising is inseparable from the SINCERE values that form the foundation of the company’s operations: Safety, Integrity, Commitment, Respect, and Excellence.

Through the spirit of One Freeport: From Eastern Indonesia, We Rise Together, PTFI is committed to continuing to grow with the community and provide sustainable benefits for current and future generations.

“Amid all the trials we face today, from Tembagapura I say From Eastern Indonesia, from the land of Papua for Indonesia, Freeport Rises,” Tony concluded.