Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said :
No Contract Extension

Recent news coming out of Phoenix, Arizona in the United States, where giant mining company Freeport-McMoRan is headquartered, prompted the Indonesian media to seek out Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said for confirmation. In a press release, Freeport's Chairman James R. Moffett announces that the company has obtained assurances from the government that its operations will continue beyond 2021.

This was confusing since Government Regulation No. 77/2014 states that such extensions can only be approved within two years before expiration. Rizal Ramli, coordinating minister for maritime affairs, immediately picked up on the discrepancy, accusing Sudirman of siding with Freeport. Last week, Sudirman denied reports that Freeport's contract extension had been approved. "There have been no words to indicate to indicate the contract has been extended," Sudirman told journalists.

October 20, 2015