Indosmelt wants copper concentrate from Freeport

PT Indosmelt is in talks to purchase copper concentrate from PT Freeport Indonesia as raw material for its planned copper smelter in Maros, South Sulawesi.

?We are in intensive talks with Freeport on the possible copper concentrate supply,? said Natsir Mansyur, owner of Indosmelt, on Tuesday, as reported by Kontan.

Indosmelt would need about 350,000 tons of concentrate a year. Natsir said the construction of the smelter will start next year. ?We've already secured a commitment from PLN to supply 2x30 MW electricity for the smelter.?

First production testing from the smelter, which will be built at a cost of US$700 million, is targeted to be in 2016 or 2017. (*)