Vale’s Pomalaa HPAL Nickel Smelter Project Completed, Commissioning Set to Begin

Vale’s Pomalaa HPAL Nickel Smelter Project Completed, Commissioning Set to Begin

14 Aug 2026, 15:34 PM
Tin Production Rises 75%, TINS Profit Surges 805% in H1 2026
Tin Production Rises 75%, TINS Profit Surges 805% in H1 2026
12 Aug 2026, 15:37 PM
DEWA Reveals GMR IPO Plans and Exploration Progress at Aceh Gold and Copper Mine
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11 Aug 2026, 15:59 PM
Sumbawa Timur Mining’s Onto Project Could Rival Freeport Indonesia Grasberg
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14 Aug 2026, 16:02 PM
PTRO Secures IDR 9.3 Trillion Coal Mining Contract
PTRO Secures IDR 9.3 Trillion Coal Mining Contract
12 Aug 2026, 15:45 PM
AMNT Targets Triple Production Growth Following Sumbawa Smelter Launch
AMNT Targets Triple Production Growth Following Sumbawa Smelter Launch
16 Jul 2026, 11:20 AM 884

Supported by the operation of the copper refining facility (smelter) in Sumbawa, PT Amman Mineral Nusa Tenggara (AMNT) has set a target for copper concentrate production of 1.29 million dry metric tons (DMT) in the 2026 Work Plan and Budget (RKAB). This means an increase of nearly three times compared to the 2025 production realization, which reached 453.4 thousand DMT.In a statement quoted on Thursday (16/7/2026), President Director of PT Amman Mineral Nusa Tenggara, Rachmat Makkasau, said the surge in production was supported by the operation of the copper smelter in Sumbawa. The refining facility in West Nusa Tenggara Province is now able to process the entire concentrate production from the mine."Since around April 2026, operational activities have begun and the ramp-up process has been progressing well. Around June 2026, we have been able to process all production currently generated by the mine," said Rachmat Makkasau during a Hearing Meeting (RDP) with Commission XII of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) on Tuesday (15/7/2026).The success of the ramp-up process has begun to be reflected in the smelter's production performance throughout the first half of 2026. Until the second quarter, AMMAN had produced 46 thousand tons of copper cathodes, 3.7 tons of gold, and 14.6 tons of silver.In fact, in the second quarter of 2026, the company was able to produce 46,000 tons of copper cathodes, 3.7 tons of gold, and 14.6 tons of silver. In addition, there was also production of selenium and sulfuric acid.AMMAN Smelter Also Produces 24 DMT of SeleniumFurthermore, in addition to these main metals, the smelter has also produced 24 DMT of selenium and 421.8 thousand DMT of sulfuric acid until the first half of 2026. With this achievement, the company is optimistic that the production targets for refined products by the end of the year can be achieved.It is important to note that throughout 2026, AMMAN is targeting production of approximately 162 thousand tons of copper cathodes, 16 tons of gold, 45 tons of silver, 91 tons of selenium, 1.96 tons of tellurium, and 572 thousand tons of sulfuric acid.On the upstream side, the increase in concentrate production in 2026 is also supported by the development of mining activities at the Batu Hijau Mine.The low production in 2025 was part of the mining cycle because the company focused its activities on overburden stripping in Phase 8, resulting in a lower volume of ore being mined.Rachmat acknowledged that production declined in 2025. In 2026, an increase in production is planned, which will continue in 2027 and the following years.As this phase comes to an end, the company expects concentrate production to remain above 1 million DMT in the coming years.According to the company's projections, concentrate production is expected to reach around 1.2 million DMT in 2027, 1.18 million DMT in 2028, and 1.11 million DMT in 2029.The projection is increasing because starting next year AMMAN will extract and process more ore in its mining activities.For marketing, the smelter's production output is currently still prioritized to meet domestic market needs. However, when production capacity has been utilized optimally, the company is opening opportunities for exports, especially for copper cathode products.

Freeport Targets Kucing Liar Mine to Begin Production in 2029
Freeport Targets Kucing Liar Mine to Begin Production in 2029
14 Jul 2026, 11:25 AM 627

PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) is targeting its Kucing Liar underground mine in the Grasberg area, Central Papua, to begin production in 2029. The mine is being prepared to replace the decline in production from the Deep Mill Level Zone (DMLZ) mine while maintaining the company’s production capacity over the long term.PTFI President Director Tony Wenas said that the development of the Kucing Liar mine is underway and is targeted to enter the production stage within the next three years. “We are preparing the Kucing Liar mine, which is located near the current mining area, so that mining operations can begin in 2029,” Tony said during a hearing with Commission XII of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) on Tuesday, 14 July 2026.According to Tony, the presence of Kucing Liar will maintain the continuity of mining operations when DMLZ production begins to decline.Based on a report by Freeport-McMoRan (FCX), development of the Kucing Liar mine began in 2022. Throughout 2025, the company completed various studies to evaluate the potential expansion of the mining footprint.In the initial design, the Kucing Liar mine was planned to have a production capacity of 90 thousand metric tons of ore per day. However, study results indicated that the capacity could potentially be increased to 130 thousand metric tons per day through development at relatively low additional cost.The expansion is also expected to increase the mine’s reserves by approximately 20 percent compared with the initial estimate. The Kucing Liar mine is estimated to contain reserves of around 8 billion pounds of copper and 8 million ounces of gold. The mine is projected to operate until 2041. When operating at full capacity, Freeport estimates that Kucing Liar will be capable of producing an average of 750 million pounds of copper and approximately 735 thousand ounces of gold annually.

MDKA Discovers 2 Million Ounces of Gold Resources at Gua Macan Project
MDKA Discovers 2 Million Ounces of Gold Resources at Gua Macan Project
13 Jul 2026, 11:23 AM 556

PT Merdeka Copper Gold Tbk (MDKA) has announced an updated Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) for the Gua Macan Copper-Gold Porphyry Project located within the Tujuh Bukit mineral district, East Java, Indonesia.Gua Macan is located within the Mining Business License (IUP) area of PT Bumi Suksesindo (BSI), which is one of Merdeka’s strategic mining assets in East Java.The project is fully owned by the Merdeka Group through its subsidiaries.This updated Mineral Resource Estimate further strengthens Gua Macan’s position as part of Merdeka’s long-term copper and gold growth portfolio, while also providing further support for the evaluation of its open-pit mining development potential.The latest Mineral Resource Estimate reaches 276 million tonnes (Mt), with average grades of 0.23 grams of gold per tonne (g/t Au) and 0.16 percent copper (Cu), containing approximately 2.0 million ounces of gold (Moz Au) and 430 thousand tonnes of copper (kt Cu).These figures represent an increase of 70 Mt, or 25 percent, as well as an increase of 0.40 Moz of gold and 103 kt of copper compared with the previous Mineral Resource Estimate announced in December 2025.The Indicated Mineral Resource category has nearly doubled to 217 million tonnes from the previous 112 million tonnes, reflecting successful resource conversion through the addition of 26 diamond drill holes and improvements to the geological model.Albert Saputro, President Director of PT Merdeka Copper Gold Tbk, said that the updated Gua Macan Mineral Resource Estimate represents another important milestone for Merdeka and reflects the value generated from the company’s exploration strategy."Starting from an internally developed exploration target in 2023, Gua Macan has now rapidly developed into a significant gold-rich copper-gold porphyry resource, located near the currently operating Tujuh Bukit Gold Mine," Albert said in a written statement on Monday, 13 July 2026.The Main Porphyry Zone is now the primary value contributor within the Gua Macan deposit. The zone contains approximately 110 million tonnes of resources with grades of 0.36 g/t Au and 0.23 percent Cu, containing around 1.3 million ounces of gold and 257 thousand tonnes of copper.Although it represents only around 40 percent of the total Mineral Resource tonnage, the Main Porphyry Zone contributes approximately 65 percent of the gold content and 60 percent of the copper content within the Gua Macan deposit.Mineralization at Gua Macan has been defined across an area of approximately 1 kilometer by 1 kilometer and extends from surface to a drilling depth of around 600 meters.The mineralization system remains open at depth, indicating potential for additional resource growth as exploration activities and technical studies continue.The updated Net Smelter Return (NSR) model further strengthens the geological interpretation by showing that the highest-value economic material is concentrated within a shallower and continuous coherent core of mineralization inside the Main Porphyry domain.Merdeka plans to conduct targeted metallurgical variability testing to evaluate whether these characteristics can support improved metal recovery assumptions in engineering studies at the next stage.The latest Mineral Resource Estimate has been classified into the Indicated and Inferred categories in accordance with the JORC Code 2012 and the KCMI Code 2017.The Mineral Resources are reported within an optimised shell that demonstrates reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction, using a minimum Net Smelter Return (NSR) cut-off value of USD 8 per tonne."Gua Macan demonstrates Merdeka’s ability to create value through exploration. Sustainable resource growth, supported by its proximity to existing infrastructure and ongoing technical studies, further strengthens the project’s position as one of the key long-term growth drivers within Merdeka’s copper and gold portfolio," he concluded.

Indonesia’s Alamtri Starts Aluminium Exports, Ships Metal to the US
Indonesia’s Alamtri Starts Aluminium Exports, Ships Metal to the US
11 Jul 2026, 01:46 PM 535

A smelter owned by mining and energy group PT Alamtri Resources Indonesia made its first aluminium exports in June, shipping to the U.S. and South Korea, according to Export Genius, a trade data platform.PT Kalimantan Aluminium Industry, which is located on the island of Borneo and began commissioning its first phase at the end of last year, shipped 31,494 metric tons of primary aluminium to the U.S. last month as well as 3,569 tons to South Korea, Export Genius data showed.The U.S. has been seeking alternative sources of aluminium amid disruption to deliveries from key suppliers in the Gulf due to the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran; shortages pushed U.S. aluminium premiums AUPc1 to a record high last month.Some 18,500 tons of aluminium were shipped to the U.S. in March from another emerging Indonesian smelter, the Juwan project developed by Chinese firms Tsingshan and Xinfa.The latest U.S.-bound shipment was bought by trading house Mercuria and is en route to Brownsville, Texas, having left Indonesia on June 10, the Export Genius data showed.The shipment to South Korea, which also relies on Gulf smelters for supply, was bought by Vitol and was heading to Incheon, having departed on June 29, the data showed.An Alamtri spokesperson said the group’s smelting project had received strong interest from prospective customers and was targeting aluminium ingot sales of up to 350,000 tons this year, covering domestic and overseas markets.Mercuria had no immediate comment. A Vitol spokesperson said the firm did not comment on trading activity.

ARCI Reports High-Grade Gold Discovery from 157 Drill Holes
ARCI Reports High-Grade Gold Discovery from 157 Drill Holes
11 Jul 2026, 01:39 PM 828

PT Archi Indonesia Tbk (ARCI) reported that it conducted drilling at 157 points during the first half of 2026, with a total depth of around 45 km and exploration costs reaching USD 5.6 million.According to the company’s report, exploration activities were carried out through its two subsidiaries, PT Meares Soputan Mining (MSM) and PT Tambang Tondano Nusajaya (TTN), and focused on the Toka Tindung gold mine area.Toka Tindung itself is located approximately 35 km northeast of Manado, North Sulawesi, with a total concession area of 39,817 hectares.“Exploration areas were selectively determined based on the results of historical exploration activities conducted previously, which indicated the presence of prospective mineralization potential,” the company said.Through these exploration activities, ARCI has identified relatively high gold grades, although within relatively thin intervals. One of the findings was a gold grade of 25.18 g/t over a 3.1-meter interval at a depth of 285.80–288.90 meters.This means that at that depth, ARCI identified mineralization with an average grade of 25.18 grams of gold per tonne of rock (Au g/t) across a 3.1-meter drilling interval.Other significant findings include:First Quarter 2026Gold grade of 10.20 g/t over a 4.60-meter interval at a depth of 342.30–346.90 metersGold grade of 2.10 g/t over a 3.35-meter interval at a depth of 359.65–363.00 meters Gold grade of 2.24 g/t over an 18.15-meter interval at a depth of 182.65–200.80 metersSecond Quarter 2026 Gold grade of 7.22 g/t over an 11.30-meter interval at a depth of 285.80–297.10 metersGold grade of 25.18 g/t over a 3.10-meter interval at a depth of 285.80–288.90 metersGold grade of 4.25 g/t over a 23.00-meter interval at a depth of 213.00–236.00 metersFor comparison, ARCI had total ore reserves of 3.9 million ounces of gold as of December 2020, with an average grade of 1.2 grams of gold per tonne (Au g/t).More specifically, ARCI had proved ore reserves of 667 thousand ounces of gold as of December 2020, and probable ore reserves of 3.2 million ounces.

MDKA Spends IDR 49.49 Billion on Exploration at Tujuh Bukit Project and Wetar Mine
MDKA Spends IDR 49.49 Billion on Exploration at Tujuh Bukit Project and Wetar Mine
10 Jul 2026, 01:53 PM 608

PT Merdeka Copper Gold Tbk (MDKA) allocated USD 2.81 million or equivalent to IDR49.49 billion for exploration activities in the second quarter of 2026.The funds were focused on the Tujuh Bukit project in East Java, Damai Suksesindo (DSI) in East Java, and the Wetar Copper Mine in Southwest Maluku.Based on the company’s exploration activity report on Friday (July 10, 2026), the majority of the budget was allocated to the Tujuh Bukit project, which absorbed around IDR 48.95 billion.Activities in the area focused on developing copper, gold, and silver resources through resource definition drilling, mine life evaluation, and regional exploration.The majority of work at Tujuh Bukit was carried out by PT Bumi Suksesindo, with support from PT Merdeka Teknik Servis (MTS) under a work contract scheme.During the second quarter of 2026, seven Diamond Drill (DD) rigs completed 35 drill holes with a total depth of 7,509.8 meters, while six other holes were still undergoing drilling with a total depth of 1,469.1 meters.In addition to drilling activities, the company also conducted an Induced Polarisation (IP) geophysical survey in the East Salakan and Lompongan areas, covering 10 survey lines with a total length of 14 kilometers.Ground magnetic surveys were conducted in Candrian, Lompongan, Gua Macan, and Salakan through 59 survey lines with a total length of 68.8 kilometers.Meanwhile, exploration activities at the Wetar Copper Mine absorbed around IDR 330 million. All work was carried out by MTS, focusing on preparations for the Induced Polarisation (IP) geophysical survey.By the end of the second quarter of 2026, the company had completed preparation of 8.9 kilometers of survey lines from a total target of 72 kilometers.The Damai Suksesindo (DSI) project absorbed around IDR 220 million in funding. Most of the work was carried out by DSI with support from MTS.The company stated that prospective areas had been successfully identified as detailed exploration targets for the next stage. However, field exploration activities at DSI remain suspended following approval of a one-year suspension period that has been effective since October 10, 2025.During the suspension period, DSI will continue data-based studies (desktop studies), including geological data evaluation and geophysical data reinterpretation, to support project development.

Antam (ANTM) Spends IDR 72.60 Billion on Exploration Through June 2026, Focusing on Gold, Nickel, an...
Antam (ANTM) Spends IDR 72.60 Billion on Exploration Through June 2026, Focusing on Gold, Nickel, an...
10 Jul 2026, 01:50 PM 687

PT Aneka Tambang (Persero) Tbk (ANTM) recorded total preliminary unaudited exploration costs of IDR 72.60 billion as of June 30, 2026. The company’s exploration activities focused on three main commodities, namely gold, nickel, and bauxite, as part of efforts to maintain the sustainability of the company’s strategic mineral resources and reserves.For gold commodities, Antam conducted exploration activities in the Pongkor area, West Java. The activities included underground drilling, surface drilling, traverse measurements, geological mapping, sampling, geochemistry, and laboratory analysis to support mineral potential evaluations.Meanwhile, nickel exploration was carried out in North Konawe and Pomalaa, Southeast Sulawesi, as well as Morimoi and the Mining Business License (IUP) area of PT Sumberdaya Arindo (SDA), a subsidiary of the company located in Buli, North Maluku.Exploration activities in North Konawe included single-tube drilling, geological mapping, grid measurements, core sampling, and laboratory analysis. In Pomalaa and Morimoi, activities consisted of single-tube drilling, geological mapping, sampling, and chemical analysis. Meanwhile, in the SDA Production Operation IUP area, activities through the end of June 2026 focused on completing the licensing process for the Approval for the Use of Forest Areas (PPKH) for exploration.For bauxite commodities, ANTAM conducted exploration in Tayan and Landak, West Kalimantan. In Tayan, activities included land permit identification, drilling, geological mapping, geodetic measurements, and geochemistry. Meanwhile, in Landak, exploration activities included drilling, geological mapping, geodetic measurements, and geochemistry.Antam management, in an information disclosure to the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) on Friday (July 10, 2026), stated that exploration activities were carried out in an integrated manner through the Geomin Unit, covering area surveys, geological and geophysical exploration, geodetic surveys, drilling, physical and chemical analysis testing, as well as mineral resource and reserve calculations supported by a Geographic Information System (GIS).The initiative was carried out to ensure the availability of sufficient potential resources and strategic mineral reserves for the company in the future. ANTM’s share price closed at IDR 2,900 in today’s trading session, up 1.75% from the previous trading session (date to date).

PSAB Boosts New Reserves, Gold Drilling Reaches 6,770 Meters
PSAB Boosts New Reserves, Gold Drilling Reaches 6,770 Meters
10 Jul 2026, 01:44 PM 548

PT J Resources Asia Pasifik Tbk (PSAB) continues to accelerate efforts to increase its gold reserves. Throughout the second quarter of 2026, the gold mining issuer allocated USD 1.16 million in exploration funds to drill 34 holes with a total depth of 6,770.7 meters in the Bakan Block, North Sulawesi.Based on the company’s disclosure on Friday (July 10, 2026), exploration activities were carried out through its subsidiary PT J Resources Bolaang Mongondow (JRBM) in the areas of Bakan Village, Bolaang Mongondow Regency, and Tobayagan Village, South Bolaang Mongondow Regency.PSAB management explained that the exploration activities were conducted by JRBM’s internal geology team together with local contractor CV Tri Bersaudara under the supervision of the Brownfield Exploration Superintendent.“From April to June 2026, the company completed drilling at 34 holes, while three other holes are still ongoing. The total drilling depth reached 6,770.7 meters,” PSAB management wrote.In addition to drilling activities, the company also carried out surface geological mapping in the West Tapagale (North Villa) and Upper Tobayagan areas.Entering the third quarter of 2026, PSAB has not reduced its exploration activities. The company will continue infill drilling in the Main Ridge area, expand geological mapping to Villa North Extension and Upper Tobayagan, conduct geophysical surveys, and carry out further studies to trace the continuity of mineralized bodies in deeper zones.The company will also continue collecting supporting data through SWI analysis, XRF, magnetic susceptibility, and increase the capacity of its core storage facility (coreshed) to support the next exploration program.

BUMI’s Gold Project in Australia Moves Faster, Benefiting the Company
BUMI’s Gold Project in Australia Moves Faster, Benefiting the Company
08 Jul 2026, 01:49 PM 589

PT Bumi Resources Tbk (BUMI) has once again recorded positive developments in its business diversification strategy.The company’s Australian subsidiary, Wolfram Limited, announced that the development of the Mt. Carlton mining project in Queensland is progressing ahead of schedule, marked by the commencement of underground mining activities and access to higher-grade ore.The development was announced after Queensland Minister for Mining, Hon. Dale Last MP, officially reopened operations at the Mt. Carlton project on June 30, 2026.The inauguration marked an important milestone in reviving one of the region’s largest gold, silver, and copper assets.BUMI explained that since April 2026, open-pit mining activities in the V2 area have become the main source of production for the Mt. Carlton project.The extracted ore is processed on-site before being shipped in concentrate form to Glencore under a seven-year offtake agreement.The project has now reached another milestone with the commencement of underground mining activities in the A39 area.The operation is producing higher-grade ore, which is expected to improve Wolfram’s production profile in the coming periods.Analysts said the accelerated development of the project indicates that operational execution is progressing in line with, or even ahead of, the initial plan.The start of underground operations is also considered to open opportunities for improved production quality, as the company begins gaining access to higher-grade ore reserves.“The entry into underground operations is an important milestone as it shows the project is developing faster than the target. Access to high-grade ore has the potential to increase productivity while providing leverage to operating margins amid a commodity price outlook that remains promising,” said Cliff Nathaniel, an analyst at Panin Sekuritas.According to Cliff, developments at Mt. Carlton further strengthen BUMI’s transformation from a company historically associated with coal into a natural resources company with broader exposure to precious and base metals such as gold, silver, and copper.“We view this diversification as strategically valuable because it can reduce dependence on the coal cycle. As the contribution from metal assets increases, BUMI’s revenue and profit profile has the potential to become more balanced and resilient over the long term,” the analyst said.In addition to providing an additional source of growth, analysts noted that the seven-year concentrate sales contract with Glencore also provides greater visibility for marketing production output.This is considered capable of reducing commercial risks during the early stages of project development while supporting the sustainability of operational cash flows.“Going forward, the market will monitor the potential increase in production volumes from underground mining, the realization of concentrate shipments, and the scale of Mt. Carlton’s contribution to BUMI’s consolidated performance,” Cliff said.With several milestones achieved ahead of schedule, the Wolfram project is considered to further strengthen BUMI’s long-term prospects while demonstrating that the company’s diversification strategy is beginning to deliver tangible results.

PT Vale’s IGP Sorowako Limonite Project Reaches 43% Construction Progress
PT Vale’s IGP Sorowako Limonite Project Reaches 43% Construction Progress
08 Jul 2026, 01:42 PM 493

PT Vale Indonesia Tbk continues to accelerate the development of the Indonesia Growth Project (IGP) Sorowako Limonite (Sorlim). As of the end of March 2026, the mine construction progress had reached 43%, marking significant advancement in one of the company’s strategic projects.The information was disclosed by PT Vale through its official Instagram account, @ptvaleindonesia. The company said the achievement was the result of the field team’s efforts in carrying out each stage of the project in a disciplined and professional manner, in line with the established targets.In the first quarter of 2026, several strategic works were completed. Construction efforts focused on key infrastructure, including the transfer point and Sediment Pond Nayoko, which are important components in supporting future mining operations.PT Vale has also constructed various supporting facilities, such as a construction office, collaborative area, clinic, FES facility, and training building. The presence of these facilities is expected to improve coordination, productivity, and the comfort of teams working in the project area.In addition, the company is continuing the construction of the Main Office Extension (MOE) and MEM Workshop Extension to enhance equipment readiness and improve mining operational efficiency.Beyond pursuing construction completion, PT Vale is also prioritizing workplace safety, environmental protection, and community empowerment as integral parts of the IGP Sorlim project.Various programs have been implemented, ranging from Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Month activities, alcohol testing for workers, health education initiatives through “Kamis Rumpi,” to emergency drills aimed at improving preparedness in handling emergency situations.In the community empowerment sector, the company has developed the Podata Pineapple Farm, which supports the local economy while improving road access through the utilization of slag. PT Vale has also developed a Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Waste Processing Facility (TPS3R) as part of its sustainable waste management efforts.With these achievements, PT Vale emphasized that the IGP Sorlim project continues to move forward by prioritizing sustainability principles while delivering benefits to communities and the environment surrounding its operational areas.

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