Amman Targets First Copper Cathode Production as Smelter Commissioning Advances

PT Amman Mineral Internasional (AMMAN) is set to begin producing copper cathodes at its new $1.4 billion smelter in West Sumbawa Regency, Indonesia, by the end of March 2025. The facility has a processing capacity of 900,000 tons of copper concentrate annually and is expected to produce 220,000 tons of copper cathodes, along with by-products such as sulfuric acid, gold, silver, and selenium.

The project represents a significant milestone for Amman as it transitions from a concentrate producer to a fully integrated operation capable of refining copper and producing gold bullion. The company achieved its first copper anode on February 12, 2025, but faced technical challenges during the commissioning process. Despite these hurdles, AMMAN reported exceeding its performance guidance in mine production, gold output, and concentrate production by 6%, 7%, and 6%, respectively.

The smelter is part of Indonesia’s broader push to strengthen its downstream mineral processing capabilities. In recent years, the Indonesian government has imposed restrictions on raw mineral exports to encourage domestic value addition. Amman had previously received export relaxations for copper concentrate until December 31, 2024, but these were not extended due to delays in the smelter's progress. The company has expressed hopes that the government will allow additional exports to maximize state revenue while the smelter ramps up to full capacity.