PT Freeport Indonesia

Greening Drive in Grasberg Launches Environment Day Commemorations in Mimika Regency

17 May 2024

TEMBAGAPURA – On Wednesday (15/5), PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) in conjunction with the Mimika Regency Government conducted a Greening Drive in Grasberg, located at an elevation of 4,400 meters above sea level in Tembagapura. This activity launched a series of other activities in commemoration of World Environment Day 2024 in Mimika Regency, Central Papua.

“This greening drive is by way of PTFI carrying out part of the reclamation program undertaken by PTFI in endeavoring to fulfill its commitment to environmental management throughout its entire operating term as well as in the Grasberg open-pit postmining period,” PTFI Chief Mine Engineer (Kepala Teknik Tambang/KTT) Carl Tauran said.

The greening drive conducted in the Grasberg area was attended by around 200 participants, comprising PTFI employee representatives, and delegations from the Mimika Regency Environmental Office (DLH), Tembagapura religious leaders, and the community of employees’ spouses. On this stretch of land covering an area of 1 hectare, they planted 400 seedlings of alpine ecosystem plants endemic to the Central Papua Mountains, such as Coprosma brassii, Olearia sp., Rhododendron sp., Tasmania piperita., Cyatea sp., and Papuacalia sp. Carl disclosed Grasberg Greening is part of the PTFI overburden reclamation program included in the 5-year Reclamation Plan implemented since 1999. “This is in implementation of part of our commitment to managing environmental impacts from the Grasberg open pit mining operation, which ended in 2020”.

“As of the end of 2023, Grasberg overburden stockpiles covering a total area of 507 hectares have been reclaimed,” he informed.

The head of Mimika Regency’s Environmental Office, Frans Kambu expressed appreciation for the collaboration initiated by PTFI. “This activity was able to be accomplished thanks to good communication established between PTFI and the Mimika Regency government. This planting activity is an effective step towards curtailing impacts from climate change. The efforts we are carrying out today are contributing to reduction of emissions. It is my hope that our concern and attention with regard to this matter will not stop here,” Frans said.

The Mimika Regency Environmental Office Head further voiced the hope that this greening activity conducted by PTFI will serve to inspire other agencies and the public in Mimika Regency to carry out environmental conservation actions.

World Environment Day 2024 is themed Land Restoration, Desertification and Drought Resilience. Following the Grasberg greening drive, Environmental Day 2024 commemorations will continue with such activities as contests and competitions, a talk show, sharing sessions, releasing Papuan endemic animals into the wild, and other pursuits. PTFI Environmental Day 2024 commemorations are planned to climax on this coming 10-12 July, with an Environmental Expo to be held in the Gedung Eme Neme Yauware building in Timika.

PTFI efforts to manage environmental impacts through various reclamation actions are also conducted in the tailings deposition area, and currently 762 hectares of this area have undergone reclamation, and mangroves have been planted in on 930 hectares in the Ajkwa River estuary area.

PTFI’s fulfillment of its land restoration responsibility is conducted not just within its IUPK special mining operation permit concession area, but also encompasses assisting the government through rehabilitation of river basins and protected forests in the Jayapura area. Under this endeavor, as of 2025, 2,338 hectares of land have been planted with forest and fruit trees out of a total of 4,232 hectares.

“We hope that through these various environmental programs a favorable ecosystem will be created to benefit future generations,” Carl said.

PHOTO	CAPTION
	PTFI Chief Mine Engineer (KTT) Carl Tauran planting Rhododendron sp seedlings in the PTFI Grasberg reclamation area.
	Deschampsia klossii plants in the Grasberg Reclamation Area. These plants are one of the native species being replanted in Grasberg post open pit mining operation revegetation efforts.
	PTFI, by way of its Environmental Department is carrying out reclamation efforts in the Grasberg open pit area, including land levelling and revegetation. .
Photo A Photo B	Photo A & B: 200 people participated in the treeplanting drive conducted as part of Environmental Day 2024 Commemoration, comprising PTFI employees, and representatives from Mimika Regency Environmental Office, local religious leaders, and the employees’ spouses community.