PT Freeport Indonesia

Freeport Airlifts 90 Tons of Christmas Supplies for Highland Residents in Mimika Through Community Christmas Flights Program

30 December 2025

Mimika, December 29, 2025 – PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI), through the Community Christmas Flights program, deployed helicopters to airlift 90 tons of food and various Christmas supplies for residents living in the Aroanop Valley, Tsinga Valley, and Jila Valley in the highlands of Mimika Regency, Central Papua.

"Thank you for the assistance in delivering food to the Tsingga and Aroanop Valleys. You have helped us tremendously, so I, representing the tribal chief, would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to PTFI. God bless you," said Aroanop Tribal Chief Andreanus Janampa.

According to him, this support is greatly appreciated by the community because the cost of transporting goods by chartered helicopter is very expensive. Moreover, it is quite risky because after disembarking from the helicopter, residents must still walk for 2-4 hours to reach their villages along challenging and risky routes through mountainous terrain, crossing rivers and bridges.

One community leader, Yoab Beanal, said that with PTFI helicopters, food and Christmas supplies can arrive on time in the villages. "We are very grateful to God who blesses us through this company. We greatly appreciate every effort made," he said.

Senior Vice President (SVP) of Sustainable Development at PTFI, Nathan Kum, said the Community Christmas Flight program has been regularly conducted by the company since 2015 for residents around PTFI's operational areas. "The purpose is to facilitate residents in bringing food and Christmas supplies they purchased in Timika to be airlifted to their villages. With PTFI helicopters, transportation can be faster and more effective so they can celebrate Christmas and New Year with joy," he said.

Of the total 90 tons of food and Christmas supplies delivered, 8.4 tons were food aid from PTFI. All goods underwent X-Ray inspection at the airport before being transported by helicopter. Delivery was conducted using the sling load method, or steel cable to lift cargo by suspending it beneath the helicopter. This method is implemented according to aviation safety standards by PTFI's aviation team.

Helicopter flights were conducted 35 times from December 7-23, 2025, departing from Mozes Kilangin Airport in Timika to Aroanop Valley (drop-off points at Ainggogin Village and Jagamin Village), Tsinga Valley (drop-off points at Beanekogom Village and Dolinigogin Village), and Jila Valley (drop-off point at Pasir Putih Village). Travel time for each trip is approximately one hour round trip. This method is considered suitable and effective so that residents do not need to travel far to collect their goods.

After arriving at the drop-off location, residents carry their various Christmas supplies to their respective villages. In Aroanop Valley, there are seven villages: Baluni, Jagamin, Ainggogin, Ainggigi One and Ainggigi Two, Ombani One and Ombani Two. In Tsinga Valley, there are eight villages: Bebilawak, Dolinigogin, Beanekogom, Jongkogoma, Miniponigoma, Metember, Ulibugarki. While in Jila, there are 12 villages including Diloa, Diloa Two, Pasir Putih, Jengkon, Bomogin, Pilik Ogom, Noema, Eralmakawia, Umpiliga, Bunarugun, Amuga Ogom, and Wandud Village.

It is known that to reach Aroanop Valley and Tsinga Valley, there are commercial helicopter and aircraft services to transport goods and passengers. The cost of chartering a helicopter to send goods reaches approximately Rp25-40 million with a carrying capacity of 600-800 kg. If using subsidized commercial aircraft, the fare for each passenger is around Rp300,000 and each person is only allowed to bring up to 16 kg of baggage. Any excess baggage is charged Rp23,000 per kg. In this area, there are no vehicles. The only access is on foot and relying on porters or cargo carriers if there are goods that must be distributed from the airport to the villages.

"If using PTFI helicopters with sling load, it will greatly save time because the helicopter goes directly to those villages. Thus, residents can save money because they do not need to spend on cargo transportation costs," Nathan said.

He added that in addition to supporting cargo flights for residents' Christmas supplies, PTFI supports ground transportation carrying Christmas supplies and resident mobilization in several villages around PTFI's operational areas, namely Banti 1 Village, Banti 2, Kimbeli, and Opitawak. This Christmas transportation was conducted daily during the period of December 15-24, 2025, with 36 bus trips carrying a total of 1,473 passengers, as well as a total of 126 tons of food and Christmas supplies.

In the Lowlands, PTFI also supports the mobility of residents and goods transportation for the Kamoro Tribe, including Koperapoka Village, Nayaro, Tipuka, Ayuka, and Nawaripi.

PHOTO	DESCRIPTION
	Delivery of Christmas supplies for three village communities from Mozes Kilangin Airport in Timika to Jagamin Village, Ainggogin (Aroanop), and Beane-Dolil (Tsinga) using PTFI's Mi-17 Series Helicopter.
	Community Liaison Office (CLO) staff together with PTFI's Aviation Team assist in preparing the sling load for the delivery process of goods to be transported by helicopter
	A total of 90 tons of goods were transported using PTFI helicopters from Mozes Kilangin Airport in Timika to Jagamin Village, Ainggogin (Aroanop), and Beane-Dolil (Tsinga) for the three village communities.
	The delivery process was carried out with high safety standards to ensure goods arrive safely at their destination.
	Christmas supplies for the three village communities arrive at one of the destination helipads before being distributed to the community.