Freeport Indonesia links hydro and solar plans to mining permit extension
The miner is also preparing to switch from coal-fired electricity to LNG-based generation as part of its emissions reduction efforts.
An extension of PT Freeport Indonesia’s mining permit beyond 2041 would broaden its options for hydropower and solar energy, president director Tony Wenas said. Plans to use those renewable sources depend on the company obtaining the extension.
Wenas told CNBC Indonesia on the sidelines of COP31 in Antalya, Turkey, that the current special mining business permit, or IUPK, expires in 2041. In remarks cited on 12 November 2026, he said an extension in line with an agreement with the government would give the company more room to explore cleaner energy.
For its existing emissions reduction efforts, the miner has replaced fossil-fuel-powered mining trucks with electric trains. The trains can transport 150,000 tonnes of ore daily and can reduce carbon emissions by 30 per cent.
Freeport Indonesia is also working towards replacing coal-fired generation with an LNG-based power plant. Wenas said the combination of electric trains and LNG generation was projected to lower the company’s operational carbon emissions by up to 60 per cent.
