Freeport Indonesia delays Grasberg production timeline to early 2028

• Grasberg recovery delayed until early 2028
• Grasberg contributes nearly 3% global copper supply

PT Freeport Indonesia has delayed the full recovery of production at its GBC underground copper mine to early 2028, according to recent media reports. The revised timeline extends beyond the company’s earlier guidance, where it had indicated in its earnings release that operations were expected to normalise by 2027 following the disruption that occurred last year.

The delay comes as the company continues to face technical and operational challenges related to underground ore-handling and transportation systems. Freeport stated that recovery work has become more complex due to wet ore conditions and infrastructure modifications required to safely restore mining activities at the site.

Operations at the mine were severely disrupted after a mudflow incident in September 2025, which damaged underground infrastructure and halted production across several mining sections. Although phased production from certain unaffected areas resumed in April 2026, the mine is currently operating at only around 40-50% of its normal production capacity.

The prolonged disruption at Grasberg is expected to keep global copper concentrate supply tight, particularly at a time when demand from renewable energy, electric vehicles, and infrastructure sectors remains strong. Meanwhile, Freeport continues rehabilitation and infrastructure upgrades as part of its phased recovery strategy toward restoring full-scale operations by 2028.

Grasberg, located in Indonesia’s Papua region, is among the world’s largest copper and gold mining complexes and remains one of the most strategically important assets in the global copper industry. Operated by PT Freeport Indonesia, the mine contributes significantly to global copper concentrate supply, accounting for an estimated 3% of worldwide copper production.

The operation includes multiple underground mining systems, with the Grasberg Block Cave (GBC) mine serving as one of its key production hubs following the depletion of open-pit reserves.