Manyar Smelter Targeted to Begin Production in September 2026, Gradually Absorbing Freeport Concentrate

JAKARTA — Efforts to strengthen national mineral downstreaming continue to show progress. PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) is targeting its processing and refining facility (smelter) in Manyar, Gresik, East Java, to resume operations and process copper concentrate by September 2026. PT Freeport Indonesia President Director Tony Wenas stated that operational preparations for the smelter are proceeding according to the established schedule. A gradual increase in mine production capacity will underpin the supply of raw materials for the facility. “Currently everything is on schedule. In the second quarter of 2026, the utilisation rate will increase to around 50 percent. At that level, all concentrate can still be absorbed by the PT Smelting smelter,” Tony said on Friday (20/6/2026). He explained that entering the third quarter of 2026, the mine operation utilisation rate is targeted to rise to approximately 65 percent. With this increase, concentrate will become available for allocation to the Manyar smelter. According to Tony, the processing facility is expected to begin processing concentrate in September 2026. However, in the initial stage, the processing volume will still be limited as capacity is gradually ramped up. “Around September it will produce and start processing concentrate again, but in still limited quantities,” he said. PTFI has also set a target for a phased utilisation increase until reaching full capacity. By the end of 2026, the utilisation rate is targeted at 65 percent. It will then increase to 75 percent by the end of the first half of 2027 and continue to grow until reaching 100 percent by the end of the second half of 2027. The capacity increase at the Manyar smelter is considered important in supporting the mineral downstreaming agenda, which is one of the government’s focuses. With the operation of this facility, domestic copper concentrate processing capacity will grow larger, thereby increasing the added value of national mineral resources while reducing dependence on raw material exports.