Jakarta - SOE Minister Erick Thohir estimates that the PT Freeport Indonesia smelter, located in the Special Economic Zone in Gresik Regency, East Java, can produce around 35 tons of gold per year.

"So that later we can produce an average of 35 tons of gold per year with a value of Rp30 trillion," Erick said in an official statement on Tuesday (12/10).

He estimates that the need for funds for the construction of the smelter is around Rp42 trillion. The smelter will carry out copper refining activities to produce a copper cathode, including refining precious metals with gold, silver, and other precious metals.

"It is planned that during construction, this smelter will absorb 40,000 workers. Earlier, the Governor of East Java had entrusted the majority of the workers from East Java, if possible, so that the certainty of the opening of the workforce also occurred," he added.

Furthermore, after the takeover of Freeport by SOEs,