Indonesia is a significant producer of gold, with several major mines and mills across the country. Here’s an overview of gold ore and milling operations in Indonesia:
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Major Gold Mines in Indonesia
1. Grasberg Mine (Freeport-McMoRan & PT Indonesia Asahan Aluminium)
– Location: Papua (one of the world’s largest gold and copper mines)
– Operator: Freeport Indonesia (majority owned by PT Inalum and Freeport-McMoRan)
– Ore Processing: The mine has concentrators and mills to process gold-copper ore.
2. Batu Hijau Mine (PT Amman Mineral Nusa Tenggara)
– Location: Sumbawa, West Nusa Tenggara
– Ore Processing: Mill processes copper-gold ore via flotation.
3. Gosowong Mine (PT NHM – a subsidiary of PT Antam)
– Location: North Maluku
– Ore Processing: High-grade epithermal gold deposit, processed via conventional milling and cyanidation.
4. Pongkor Mine (PT Antam)
– Location: West Java
– Ore Processing: Underground mine with a carbon-in-leach (CIL) processing plant.
5. Tujuh Bukit Mine (PT BSI – owned by PT Merdeka Copper Gold)
– Location: East Java
– Ore Processing: Heap leach for oxide ore; plans for a sulfide mill.
Gold Milling Process in Indonesia
Gold ore processing typically involves:
– Crushing & Grinding (Ball mills, SAG mills)
– Gravity Separation (For free-milling gold)
– Flotation (For sulfide ores)
– Cyanidation (CIL – Carbon-in-Leach or CIP – Carbon-in-Pulp)
– Smelting & Refining (Producing doré bars)
Challenges in Indonesia’s Gold Sector
– Regulatory changes (divestment requirements for foreign miners)
– Environmental concerns (mercury use in small-scale mining)
– Infrastructure limitations in remote areas like Papua
Artisanal & Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM)
Indonesia has significant informal gold mining, often using mercury for extraction, leading to environmental and health risks. The government is pushing for formalization and cleaner technologies.
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