Jakarta – Mimika Regent Eltinus Omaleng has urged PT Freeport Indonesia to develop a smelter in the Papuan regency rather than constructing the facility outside of Papua.
"The President and Pak Luhut had given their support to our wish for the smelter to be in Timika," said Eltinus, referring to President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan as reported by tempo.co on Tuesday.
Previously, there was plans to develop the smelter outside of Papua because of power shortages in the province.
Speaking to the press after meeting with Luhut in the latter's office, Eltinus said his administration had prepared 300 hectare plots of land in Timika, the capital of Mimika regency, to show to Freeport the area was suitable for the smelter's location.
Eltinus said the construction of the smelter would create employment for Papuan people, many of whom had finished their university studies and needed jobs. "We have to create jobs in various ways," said Eltinus, adding that Freeport needed to do more to help the Papuan people.
On Jan. 11, Jokowi signed Government Regulation No. 1/2017, the fourth amendment to a previous 2010 regulation on the implementation of mineral and coal mining businesses.
Under the regulation, mining companies have to construct smelters as a precondition for them to be allowed to export mineral concentrates out of the country. (bbn)