Freeport delays full restart of Grasberg mine to early 2028
2026-05-11 15:17:45 [Print]
PT Freeport Indonesia has confirmed a delay in the full resumption of production at the Grasberg mine as it continues to recover from a fatal accident last year that disrupted global copper supply chains.
In a statement on Thursday, the company said it now expects the massive mining complex in Central Papua province to return to full capacity by early 2028. It had previously targeted a complete restart by the end of 2027.
A Freeport spokesperson told Reuters that the delay is due to "additional work on logistics and ore handling infrastructure" at the underground mine, which was hit by a severe mudflow in September.
The incident, which occurred in Grasberg's Block Cave underground mine, resulted in the deaths of seven workers, forcing Freeport to immediately halt mining operations and declare force majeure on shipments.
The suspension added further pressure to the global copper market, as Grasberg accounted for about 3% of the world's copper supply at the time, producing approximately 1.7 million pounds of the metal annually. The mine is also a major gold producer, with annual output of 1.4 million ounces.
As part of the recovery process, Freeport has outlined a phased restart plan, beginning with areas unaffected by the mudslide. The Deep Mill Level Zone and Big Gossan underground mines resumed operations last year, while parts of the Grasberg Block Cave (GBC) returned to production last month.
The miner initially planned to ramp up to 85% capacity by mid-2026 and reach 100% by the end of 2027. However, in its most recent earnings report, the company stated that the path to full production would slow significantly. It now aims to achieve 65% capacity in the second half of 2026, 80% by mid-2027, and near-full capacity by the end of 2027.
In a statement on Thursday, the company said it now expects the massive mining complex in Central Papua province to return to full capacity by early 2028. It had previously targeted a complete restart by the end of 2027.
A Freeport spokesperson told Reuters that the delay is due to "additional work on logistics and ore handling infrastructure" at the underground mine, which was hit by a severe mudflow in September.
The incident, which occurred in Grasberg's Block Cave underground mine, resulted in the deaths of seven workers, forcing Freeport to immediately halt mining operations and declare force majeure on shipments.
The suspension added further pressure to the global copper market, as Grasberg accounted for about 3% of the world's copper supply at the time, producing approximately 1.7 million pounds of the metal annually. The mine is also a major gold producer, with annual output of 1.4 million ounces.
As part of the recovery process, Freeport has outlined a phased restart plan, beginning with areas unaffected by the mudslide. The Deep Mill Level Zone and Big Gossan underground mines resumed operations last year, while parts of the Grasberg Block Cave (GBC) returned to production last month.
The miner initially planned to ramp up to 85% capacity by mid-2026 and reach 100% by the end of 2027. However, in its most recent earnings report, the company stated that the path to full production would slow significantly. It now aims to achieve 65% capacity in the second half of 2026, 80% by mid-2027, and near-full capacity by the end of 2027.
Copper Conc. 20%min Delivered China Cu Payable
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China refined copper producers' number MoM output increase statistics by province by month
Unit: pcs
