Freeport Suspends Copper Output at Manyar Smelter Following Fire Incident

Freeport McMoRan

Freeport McMoRan, a leading US-based mining company, has temporarily halted copper cathode production at its Manyar smelter in the Gresik special economic zone of East Java, Indonesia, due to a fire that broke out on October 14, 2024. The fire occurred at the clean gas separation facility, a critical part of the smelting process, which converts carbon dioxide into sulfuric acid. The blaze was reported to have started at approximately 17:45 local time (10:45 GMT) on October 14 and was fully extinguished by October 15.

According to Tony Wenas, CEO of Freeport Indonesia, the suspension was necessary because the copper cathode production process was consuming sulfuric gas that must be captured by the clean gas separation facility. This incident has led to the postponement of refined copper sales, and production will remain halted until the facility is fully operational again. The Manyar smelter was expected to commence full-scale operations by the start of 2025, with a capacity to process up to 1.7 million tons per year (t/yr) of copper concentrate and produce up to 600,000 tons per year of copper cathodes.

This disruption follows the smelter's recent launch on September 23, 2024, and marks a setback for the company’s copper production efforts in Indonesia, where Freeport has been focusing on expanding its refining capabilities. The company’s response to the incident highlights the challenges faced by mining operations in maintaining the delicate balance of environmental safety and efficient production processes.