UNSRI General Lecture: Tony Wenas Emphasizes the Role of Integrated Upstream-Downstream Mining
03 February 2025
President Director of PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) Tony Wenas emphasized that Indonesia is now viewed as a major player in global mining.
“Various expert analysts predict that copper will be the mineral of the future as currently 65% of the world’s copper is used for electrical conductors. As countries race to build renewable power plants, more copper will be needed. As electric vehicles usage increases, more copper will be needed,” said Tony while delivering a General Lecture at Sriwijaya University (UNSRI) titled “Integrated Upstream-Downstream Mining Towards Golden Indonesia” at UNSRI’s Indralaya Campus, Palembang, Monday.
Tony explained that PTFI currently operates the world’s largest underground mine and the world’s largest single-line smelter. This makes PTFI the world’s largest copper cathode producer and the world’s largest integrated upstream-downstream mining operation.
“PTFI’s new smelter can produce 600,000 tons of copper cathode annually, and when combined with the first smelter, PT Smelting, the total production is almost 1 million tons of copper cathode per year,” said Tony.
The Guest Lecture at UNSRI was opened by the Acting Governor of South Sumatra Elen Setiadi, witnessed by UNSRI Rector Taufiq Marwa, Vice-Rectors, Deans, and more than 400 students from the Faculty of Economics, Faculty of Engineering and Papuan students studying at UNSRI.
Elen said, Freeport Indonesia is an integrated copper mining company from upstream to downstream within the country. This event is a golden opportunity for students and academics to understand how large companies like PTFI manage natural resources. He also appreciated PTFI’s commitment to building the world’s largest single-line smelter to support the government’s downstream policy.
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“With this activity, we certainly hope there will be enlightenment, opening our minds, especially on how the mining sector can be integrated between upstream and downstream. I believe this can be our opportunity to learn, transfer technology, knowledge and is very much needed in several campuses including UNSRI,” said Elen.
UNSRI Rector Taufiq Marwa hopes that academics can better understand the role and contribution of PTFI in succeeding the President's priority programs in energy security towards Golden Indonesia in 2045.
“We believe the mining sector’s economic contribution will be very decisive in achieving Golden Indonesia in 2045,” said Taufiq.
At the end of the event, Taufiq conveyed students’ and lecturers’ hopes to PTFI for cooperation in supporting educational programs at UNSRI. Responding to this, Tony announced PTFI's commitment to provide 20 scholarships for high-achieving UNSRI students.
Economic Contribution
In this Guest Lecture, Tony also explained about the company’s sustainable mining practices. PTFI mines and processes ore to produce concentrate containing copper, gold and silver. Until 2024, PTFI has invested $22.3 billion, including for Underground Mining development .
“PT Freeport Indonesia's contribution to the state in the form of taxes, royalties, dividends and others from 1992-2023 amounts to approximately $29.3 billion with Social Investment reaching $122 million in 2023 through education, health, economic, infrastructure, culture and sports programs,” he said.
Tony also explained sustainable mining practices that go hand in hand with community development programs around the company's operational area, namely the Amungme Tribe, the Kamoro Tribe, and five kinship tribes, as well as other Papuan communities.
PTFI is also committed to reducing the environmental impact of operational activity, including reclamation programs, tailings utilization or mine waste sand, as well as carbon emission reduction programs targeted to reach more than 30% by 2030.
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