Freeport is spending USD 370 million to close the Tembagapura mine in 2041, for what?

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) has prepared funds amounting to 370 million US dollars to close the mine in Tembagapura in 2041 if there is no extension contract business permit mining special (IUPK).

PTFI President Director Tony Wenas said that one of the closure plans is to reforest all the land that was once a mining location.

“We have prepared a fee of 370 million US dollars, it is ready and put in the bank, there is no need to mess with it,” said Tony during a conversation in Timika, Central Papua, Saturday 2 December 2023.

Tony said that the efforts made by PTFI are a commitment to restore what nature has produced.

Furthermore, PTFI has carried out various research and scientific studies involving academics for future mine closure plans.

“We’ll do it researchfrom now on, so that everything is ready. Are you going to (plant) corn or what? Let’s begin close 2041 because production will stop here, if continued “Yes, not yet, the mine will be closed later,” said Tony.

Restoration of 472 hectares of ex-dug fields

In 2022, PTFI has carried out a large-scale reclamation effort which resulted in the restoration of 472 hectares of ex-quarried fields, by backfilling them using a limestone mixture to prevent the occurrence of acid water in the ex-mining area.

During the 2019-2022 period, the copper mining company assessed the progress or effectiveness of the overburden.

Until 2022, PTFI has also planted 146 types of plants on former sedimentary land tailing or remaining mining processing area of ​​1,663 hectares. Areas tailing An area of ​​100 hectares in MP21 is managed for plantations, agriculture, fisheries, animal husbandry as well as environmental education and conservation efforts.

Natural succession occurs in former depositional areas tailing. More than 506 plant species have grown naturally over 10 years.

PTFI since 2005 has carried out an integrated mangrove planting program which has been implemented intensively and comprehensively on an area of ​​398.95 hectares. In the future, mangrove planting will also be carried out on 10,000 hectares of land.

“All mining companies should be like that, that’s a statutory regulation. That’s a post-mining document,” said Tony.

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