Freeport's complexity
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In a work meeting of Commission VII of the House of Representatives with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources last week at the House of Representatives, a number of House members expressed resentment. About PT Freeport Indonesia, the government is called too generous. Claims of successful negotiations by the government are considered too early.
Freeport's problems are still dim. The US mining company's contract will expire in 2021. With the remaining mineral reserves still available for decades to come, Freeport has yet to leave for Timika, Papua. They also look forward to the certainty of the extension of the operation.
The government has not yet decided to extend Freeport's operations since 50 years ago. A number of conditions must be fulfilled, namely the divestment of shares up to 51 percent to the Indonesian side, the construction of smelters and compliance with the rules of taxation in force in Indonesia.
Since Freeport's contract of work (COW) was signed in 1967, the Government of Indonesia's shares have not moved from 9.36 percent. Back to the above working meeting, Commission VII member Tjatur Sapto Edy has a loud voice. If Freeport does not comply with the prevailing provisions, the government should no longer continue to cooperate with the company. Freeport contracts in Indonesia are up to 2021 only.
While Ramson Siagian called the government's successful claim to negotiate with Freeport too early and smelling the image. A letter from Richard C Adkerson, President and CEO of Freeport McMoRan Inc., told the Ministry of Finance circulating a few weeks ago that the development of negotiations is not like the government's explanation.
In the letter, Freeport, among other things, affirmed the desire to include the assumption of Contract extension until 2041 in determining the value of the shares. This creates a polemic. Government is principled, the value of stocks limited to mineral reserves under contract until 2021.
In summary, the divestment issue is still not clear. Other members of the Board questioned the progress of developing a new smelter by Freeport. Until now there has been no physical sign of smelter development in Gresik, East Java. PT Smelting in Gresik, which is 25 percent owned by Freeport, only purifies 40 percent of copper concentrate produced by Freeport. The rest is exported.
In fact, Freeport is required to refine all copper concentrate domestically. The granting of a special mining business license (IUPK) to Freeport is also questioned. Despite its validity in months (and extensibility), it disrupt Freeport's operating status in Indonesia. So, which one is true: Contract of Work (COW) or IUPK? With the enactment of KK until 2021, can be called Freeport's double status, namely KK and IUPK at once!
Freeport's affairs seem complicated. The Coordinating Minister for Home Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan once mentioned Freeport as a fussy contracting house. As contractors, they do not want to submit to the owner of the house (Government of Indonesia).
The question is, dare the government not extend the operation of Freeport if the company is not also willing to obey on the prevailing provisions at the same time bear any consequences? Or just the opposite, the government will continue as generous as it has been?
"Win-win solution," said Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Ignatius Jonan.
IN INDONESIA
Kerumitan Freeport
Dalam rapat kerja Komisi VII Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat dengan jajaran Kementerian Energi dan Sumber Daya Mineral pekan lalu di Gedung DPR, sejumlah anggota Dewan mengungkapkan kekesalan. Soal PT Freeport Indonesia, pemerintah disebut terlalu bermurah hati. Klaim keberhasilan negosiasi oleh pemerintah dianggap terlalu dini.
Persoalan Freeport masih remang-remang. Kontrak perusahaan tambang asal Amerika Serikat ini akan habis pada 2021. Dengan sisa cadangan mineral yang masih tersedia sampai puluhan tahun ke depan, Freeport belum ingin angkat kaki dari Timika, Papua. Mereka pun menanti-nanti kepastian perpanjangan operasi.
Pemerintah belum memutuskan untuk memperpanjang operasi Freeport yang sudah berjalan sejak 50 tahun lalu itu. Sejumlah syarat harus dipenuhi, yakni divestasi saham sampai 51 persen kepada pihak Indonesia, pembangunan smelter dan kepatuhan pada aturan perpajakan yang berlaku di Indonesia.
Sejak kontrak karya (KK) Freeport ditandatangani pada 1967, saham Pemerintah Indonesia tidak beranjak dari 9,36 persen, Kembali ke rapat kerja di atas, anggota Komisi VII, Tjatur Sapto Edy bersuara keras. Apabila Freeport tidak mau tunduk pada ketentuan yang berlaku, pemerintah sebaiknya tidak lagi melanjutkan kerja sama dengan perusahaan itu. Kontrak Freeport di Indonesia cukup sampai 2021 saja.
Sementara Ramson Siagian menyebut klaim keberhasilan pemerintah bernegosiasi dengan Freeport terlalu dini dan berbau pencitraan. Surat dari Richard C Adkerson, Presiden dan CEO Freeport McMoran Inc, kepada Kementerian Keuangan yang beredar beberapa pekan lalu menunjukkan, perkembangan negosiasi tidak seperti penjelasan pemerintah.
Pada surat itu, Freeport, antara lain, menegaskan keinginan memasukkan asumsi Perpanjangan kontrak hingga 2041 dalam penentuan nilai saham. Hal ini menimbulkan polemik. Pemerintah berprinsip, nilai saham sebatas cadangan mineral berdasarkan kontrak hingga 2021.
Ringkasnya, soal divestasi masih belum jernih benar. Anggota Dewan yang lain mempersoalkan kemajuan pembangunan smelter baru oleh Freeport. Hingga kini belum ada tanda fisik pembangunan smelter di Gresik, Jawa Timur. PT Smelting di Gresik, yang 25 persen sahamnya dimiliki Freeport, hanya memurnikan 40 persen konsentrat tembaga yang diproduksi Freeport. Sisanya diekspor.
Padahal, Freeport diharuskan memurnikan seluruh konsentrat tembaga di dalam negeri. Pemberian status Izin Usaha Pertambangan Khusus (IUPK) kepada Freeport juga dipersoalkan. Kendati masa berlakunya dalam hitungan bulan (dan bisa diperpanjang), hal ini mengacaukan status operasi Freeport di Indonesia. Jadi, mana yang benar: Kontrak Karya (KK) atau IUPK? Dengan masih berlakunya KK sampai 2021, bisa disebut Freeport berstatus ganda, yaitu KK dan IUPK sekaligus!
Urusan Freeport tampak rumit. Menteri Koordinator Kemaritiman Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan pernah menyebut Freeport sebagai pengontrak rumah yang rewel. Sebagai pengontrak, mereka tidak mau tunduk kepada si pemilik rumah (Pemerintah Indonesia).
Pertanyaannya, beranikah pemerintah tidak memperpanjang operasi Freeport seandainya perusahaan itu tidak juga mau patuh pada ketentuan yang berlaku sekaligus menanggung apa pun konsekuensinya? Atau justru sebaliknya, pemerintah akan terus bermurah hati seperti yang terjadi selama ini?
”Win-win solution,” begitu dikatakan Menteri Energi dan Sumber Daya Mineral Ignasius Jonan.
Kompas, Page-17, Tuesday, October 17, 2017
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