Unstable Global Geopolitics, Freeport Boss Focuses on Achieving Targets and Sustainable Operations

Jakarta – PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) CEO Tony Wenas stated that the company is focusing on strengthening safe and sustainable mining operations amid geopolitical dynamics and global oil price fluctuations resulting from the Iran-US-Israel war. “Yes, so we remain focused on our production activities. We strive to achieve (the 2026 target), but the most important thing is to do it in a safe, secure, and sustainable manner,” Tony said when met in Jakarta on Friday, 10 April 2026. Regarding the rise in global energy commodity prices such as fuel, he said the company has prepared several mitigation measures focused on domestic operations. He emphasised that the company always focuses on matters that can be controlled, as geopolitical situations are things that cannot be controlled by the company. “So indeed, we anticipate and strive to mitigate, but we focus more on operating the mine with safe, secure, and sustainable production. This is our main focus,” he stated. “If prices rise, we indeed cannot avoid that. And of course, we take measures to mitigate, striving to keep costs as low as possible due to the increases here,” Tony added. This aligns with the mine’s production level after the landslide incident in the underground mining area of Grasberg Block Cave (GBC) on 8 September 2025, which has now reached around 40-50 percent. He assured that Freeport Indonesia targets operations to return to near 100 percent by the end of 2026, and achieve full production capacity in the early quarter of 2027. “With all means and efforts we make to get there (safe operations). Whether oil prices rise, gold prices fall, copper prices rise or fall. It’s not that we don’t care, but our focus is on safe, secure, sustainable production,” he said.