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The PT Freeport Indonesia (PT FI) smelter building project in the Java Integrated Industrial Port And Estate (JIIPE) area of Gresik Regency, East Java, was recently visited by 28 candidates for ambassador and consulate general of the Republic of Indonesia (RI), invited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemlu).
Muhsin Syihab, a member of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Intergovernmental Relations Expert Staff, stated that his party sent an invitation to the incoming RI delegates to promote economic and investment diplomacy and observe the multiplicative effect of the government's downstream program.
Muhsin was quoted by ANTARA on May 24 as saying, "I am proud to be able to invite the candidates for Indonesian ambassador and consulate general to see first-hand the PT Freeport Indonesia smelter construction project in Gresik because they get an explanation of the importance of this project, both from the economic, social, and environmental aspects."
He explained that the national downstream program, of which the smelter construction project is a part, represents a crucial step in the translation of policies from national authorities.
His prediction that "from this program, the international community will begin to pay attention to Indonesia, which has now begun to be economically independent," rings true.
Vice President and Director of PT Freeport Indonesia Jenpino Ngabdi, together with several other project managers, hosted the ambassadors and consuls’ candidates.
Meidyatama Suryodiningrat, a candidate for Indonesia's envoy to Romania and Moldova, claimed his trip there proved the government's promises. He remarked that the trip had opened his eyes to the fact that the construction was being done in a "real and precise manner" and in accordance with official government plans.
The 1.7-million-ton smelter being constructed by PT Freeport Indonesia will be the largest single-line smelter in the world.
All concentrates from PTFI production can be treated and refined locally once the smelter is up and running. Approximately 60% of the concentrate produced by PT Freeport Indonesia is exported, while 40% is processed by PT Smelting in Gresik into copper cathodes for use within Indonesia.
Source: https://voi.id/berita/282103/kemlu-ajak-28-calon-dubes-ri-ke-proyek-smelter-freeport-di-gresik