MATARAM – PT Amman Mineral Nusa Tenggara (AMNT) has obtained a recommendation for the export of 480,000 dry metric tonnes (dmt) of copper concentrate, valid for six months from 31 October 2025, from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM).
With the issuance of this recommendation, the Ministry of Trade has a basis for issuing an Export Approval Letter (SPE) for copper concentrate for AMNT. AMNT President Director Rachmat Makassau stated that the copper concentrate export permit will be an important factor in maintaining the company's operational continuity.
‘With the resumption of copper concentrate sales, we can ensure that the concentrate storage warehouse does not exceed capacity, so that mining operations can continue as planned while the smelter facilities are being repaired. Thus, AMMAN's fiscal contribution to the national and regional economy will also recover, supporting the economic recovery of NTB,’ said Rachmat. The Governor of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), Lalu Muhammad Iqbal, welcomed the central government's decision to grant AMNT an export recommendation.
Iqbal emphasised the active role of the West Nusa Tenggara Provincial Government in supporting this move. "From the outset, we have been coordinating intensively with various ministries and institutions so that this permit can be issued immediately.
This permit is not only important for AMMAN's operations but also important for driving the local economy and maintaining regional fiscal stability,‘ said Iqbal. ’Since the smelter was shut down, economic growth in the mining sector has contracted by up to -30%.
As a result, West Nusa Tenggara's overall economic growth declined to -1.47%, even though other sectors actually experienced very high growth during that period, such as the agricultural sector, which reached 10.28% and was the highest growth in the last 14 years. That is why we are reminding AMMAN to ensure that the smelter returns to normal operation immediately," added Iqbal.
Previously, AMMAN's smelter facility had to temporarily cease operations in July and August 2025 due to repairs to the Flash Converting Furnace and Sulphuric Acid Plant units. This temporary shutdown was necessary to prevent further damage and risks to work safety.
‘Repairs to the smelter's main components are highly complex and must be carried out thoroughly. Given the scale and complexity of the work, the repair process is expected to continue until the first half of 2026. During the repair period, we will continue to operate partially with a careful increase in production without neglecting safety aspects,’ concluded Rachmat.