By Cepi Setiadi
PT Dairi Prima Mineral (DPM), a joint venture between IDX-listed PT Bumi Resources Minerals Tbk (49% interest) and China Nonferrous Metal Industry’s Foreign Engineering & Construction Co. Ltd (NFC China, 51%), has reaffirmed its commitment to commence the construction and production phases of its zinc and lead mining project in Dairi Regency, North Sumatra.
Baiq Idayani, Government Relations and Media Relations Manager at DPM, revealed that the project is expected to absorb an estimated investment of US$452 million, with an annual ore processing capacity of 1 million dry metric tons.
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Baiq said that the company is currently in the planning stage and awaiting regulatory approvals, including the amended Environmental Impact Assessment (Amdal) and the revised Feasibility Study (FS). “We hope the permitting process can be completed soon so that we can proceed with construction. We also seek support from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, as well as the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), to accelerate the project and allow us to contribute to both regional and national economic growth,” Baiq said during a media gathering in Bogor on Saturday (Aug 9).
According to Baiq, the targeted ore contains an average grade of 6.9% zinc and 11–12% lead, with an expected recovery rate of around 85%. The processing plant will consist of three concentrator lines: one for zinc concentrate, one for lead concentrate, and another for sulfur concentrate. The project is still in the pre-operational phase, and the current workforce stands at around 150 employees, of whom 72% are local hires from Dairi Regency. However, once the mine enters the production phase, the company expects to expand its workforce to between 600 and 1,000 employees.
DPM estimates the construction phase will take approximately two years before entering full-scale commercial production. The company also emphasized its intention to work closely with both central and local governments to ensure timely project realization.
Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak
