Ilustration (IST)
Jayapura, 2/7 (Jubi) – The Papua Central Statistics Agency (BPS) said a negative trade balance is expected unless smelters are built in the eastern provinces of Indonesia.
“So far, Papua does not have its own smelter and it can cause a deficit in trade balance eventually. Papua is still continuing to import. While other areas will likely continue to rise because of more exports than imports, ” BPS head Didik Koesbianto told reporters in Jayapura, Papua on Wednesday (2/7).
He said Japan is among countries that have smelters and PT Freeport Indonesia exports HS26 copper ore and concentrates to that country.
In Indonesia a smelter is being built in the area of Gresik, East Java.
“it is only of small scale and can produce HS26 and both PT. Newmont and Freeport Indonesia use it, ” he added.
Papua Governor Lukas Enembe urged PT. Freeport Indonesia to seriously consider building a smelter in Papua.
“Up to now, we are consistent with the 17-point proposal including the construction of a smelter. I heard that a smelter would be built in East Java with Newmont. It can not happen, the construction must be done in Papua. We’re still consistent with it and do not play it down,” Lukas Enembe said. (Jubi /Alex/ Tina)
