Freeport Targets Kucing Liar Mine to Begin Production in 2029

PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) is targeting its Kucing Liar underground mine in the Grasberg area, Central Papua, to begin production in 2029. The mine is being prepared to replace the decline in production from the Deep Mill Level Zone (DMLZ) mine while maintaining the company’s production capacity over the long term.

PTFI President Director Tony Wenas said that the development of the Kucing Liar mine is underway and is targeted to enter the production stage within the next three years. “We are preparing the Kucing Liar mine, which is located near the current mining area, so that mining operations can begin in 2029,” Tony said during a hearing with Commission XII of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) on Tuesday, 14 July 2026.

According to Tony, the presence of Kucing Liar will maintain the continuity of mining operations when DMLZ production begins to decline.

Based on a report by Freeport-McMoRan (FCX), development of the Kucing Liar mine began in 2022. Throughout 2025, the company completed various studies to evaluate the potential expansion of the mining footprint.

In the initial design, the Kucing Liar mine was planned to have a production capacity of 90 thousand metric tons of ore per day. However, study results indicated that the capacity could potentially be increased to 130 thousand metric tons per day through development at relatively low additional cost.

The expansion is also expected to increase the mine’s reserves by approximately 20 percent compared with the initial estimate. The Kucing Liar mine is estimated to contain reserves of around 8 billion pounds of copper and 8 million ounces of gold. The mine is projected to operate until 2041. When operating at full capacity, Freeport estimates that Kucing Liar will be capable of producing an average of 750 million pounds of copper and approximately 735 thousand ounces of gold annually.

Source: https://www.tempo.co/ekonomi/freeport-targetkan-tambang-kucing-liar-berproduksi-pada-2029-2275806

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