Freeport Campaigns Connecting U: Educating on the Important Role of Copper in Life
28 February 2025
More than 1,000 students from Sam Ratulangi University Manado (UNSRAT) enthusiastically participated in the Connecting U Campaign: Leader's Talk by PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) with PTFI President Director Tony Wenas at the UNSRAT Auditorium on Monday (2/24). Connecting U, or abbreviated as Cu, is the symbol of chemical element copper, where this campaign is designed to educate young generations about the important role of copper for life and the future.
"Copper is the main product of PT Freeport Indonesia. Through this campaign, we want to introduce to the young generations to the important role of copper that is always present in everything in our daily lives. And how copper has connected the young generation with dreams and the future. That's why we call it Copper is Empowering, Copper Connecting U," said Tony.
He said copper plays an important role in connecting human life. From waking up, daily activities until bedtime, humans cannot be separated from the role of copper. "The most well-known benefit of copper is as the main material for electrical cables, electronic devices, motor vehicles, and so on," said Tony.
Tony said copper is a mineral of the future because it plays an important role along with the increasing demand for electric vehicles and renewable energy. As much as 75 percent of copper in the world is used for electrical network that facilitate activities. Even in the context of the country, copper can contribute greatly in the form of foreign exchange; copper also makes Indonesia one of the largest producer countries in the world.
"This is truly an extraordinary pride as our provision towards Golden Indonesia," he said.
PTFI, Tony continued, currently operates the world's largest underground mine and the world's largest single-line smelter. This makes PTFI the world's largest copper cathodes producer and the world's largest integrated upstream-downstream mining operation.
UNSRAT Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Prof. Ir. Arthur Gehart Pinaria, M.P., Ph.D in his welcome speech said that the collaboration between UNSRAT and PTFI is expected to improve the quality and development of relevant research in accordance with industrial developments to realize Golden Indonesia 2045. In response, Tony conveyed PTFI's commitment to provide 20 scholarships for outstanding UNSRAT students.
In the event which took place at the UNSRAT Auditorium, students had been arriving since morning to participate in various activities such as the Wall of Inspirations where they could write their inspiration about copper and the future, enjoying Amungme Papuan coffee and the stories about its uniqueness, PTFI information and education booth where students got education about PTFI’s production process from upstream to downstream, as well as providing direct experience to see the form of mining products until they become cathodes and derivative products.
More than 1,000 participants came from 11 faculties, including students from Papua who are studying at UNSRAT. The question-and-answer session was the most anticipated session for students. They competed to ask various things about PTFI such as environmental management, programs, internships, skills that must be mastered to work at PTFI, social investment in health and education, to questions about leadership and tips for success as CEO while maintaining a music career that continues to this day.
All questions were answered clearly and thoroughly by Tony Wenas. He also agreed when students asked him to sing. Two songs by Queen were chosen. In succession, "We Are the Champion" and "Love of My Life" were performed while playing the piano. Professors and students seemed absorbed in the music, applause thundered when Tony finished the second song.
One of the participants from the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences UNSRAT, Gabriela Liao, admitted to being very enthusiastic about the activity. "There are many things I can get today. How I get to know the world of mining, Indonesia's economy going forward," said Gabriela.
Community and Environmental Development
In this Connecting U Leader's Talk, in addition to sharing knowledge and experience regarding leadership, Tony also explained about sustainable mining practices run by the company.
"I always believe that no company can survive in the midst of a failed society and environment. Companies must grow with the community and protect the surrounding environment," said Tony.
Tony explained PTFI's contribution to the country in the form of taxes, royalties, dividends and others from 1992-2023 amounting to approximately 29.3 billion US dollars with Social Investment reaching 122 million US dollars in 2023. Social investment for community development includes education, health, economy, infrastructure, culture and sports programs.
"The sustainable mining practices that PTFI runs go hand in hand with the implementation of community development programs around the company's operational areas, which come from the Amungme Tribe, the Kamoro Tribe, and five kinship tribes, to other Papuan communities," said Tony.
PTFI is also committed to reducing the environmental impact of each operational activity, including reclamation programs, utilization of tailings or mining waste sand, to carbon emissions reduction programs targeted to reach more than 30 percent by 2030.
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