Pangkalpinang (ANTARA) - State-owned tin miner PT Timah will begin operating six confiscated tin smelters in Bangka Belitung starting in 2026, a move expected to boost the regional economy, President Director Restu Widyantoro said Monday.
“We are currently inspecting the condition of the smelters, as these seized state assets were previously sealed by the prosecutor’s office,” Widyantoro said after the official handover ceremony in Pangkalpinang, Bangka Belitung.
The six smelters handed over to PT Timah Tbk include facilities formerly owned by PT Stanindo Inti Perkasa (SIP), CV Venus Inti Perkasa (VIP), PT Menara Cipta Mulia (MCM), PT Tinindo Internusa (Tinindo), PT Sariwiguna Bina Sentosa (SBS), and PT Refind Bangka Tin (RBT).
“This week, we will conduct technical assessments and evaluate the condition of the facilities before beginning operations to produce refined tin,” he said.
The company aims to start managing and producing tin ingots from the six confiscated smelters in early 2026, contributing to the economic growth of the Bangka Belitung Islands Province.
“Currently, we are preparing the necessary equipment and facilities to support higher tin production,” Widyantoro said.
He added that PT Timah has been stockpiling tin ore to ensure a steady supply once the smelters are fully operational.
“With President Prabowo Subianto’s visit today, we are even more optimistic about increasing production. There is already significant potential in these smelters to expand tin output in the region,” he said.
PT Timah, a subsidiary of state-owned mining holding company MIND ID, is one of the world’s largest tin producers. The company has been tasked by the Indonesian government to strengthen control over the tin industry, particularly in curbing illegal mining and ensuring state revenue from tin exports.
Bangka Belitung is Indonesia’s main tin-producing region, accounting for the majority of the country’s output.
The operation of these smelters is expected to support the government’s plan to enhance downstream processing and create more value-added products in the domestic tin industry.
