Foreign Investment in Indonesian Exploration, Mining, and Processing is Ongoing. Vol 136

Introduction.

The modern era of Indonesian mining was kick started with the 1967 mining law that encouraged foreign parties to take up ground under the Contract of Work system. The exploration and mining industry grew, with added value in stimulating Indonesian universities to produce graduates, the development of supporting contractor and consultancies, along with the regional development of infrastructure and governance, along with the continued evolution of the Mines Department. The 2014 Mining law change the exploration & mining industry outlook from the concept of equal business partners to explorers and miners being contractors to the State. This was accompanied with various limitations on foreign investors in the mining industry. This led to a broad exit of foreign players and potential investors, leaving only a few committed miners (including Freeport, Vale). The Mines Department has recently spoken openly to encourage foreign joint venture parties to invest in the Indonesian exploration and mining industry, though at the same time, issuing new regulations that is seen, by some, as a disincentive to foreign investment.

A number of Indonesian investors have recently acquired mining projects off-shore, and obtained Indonesian mining projects through acquiring and controlling their international parent companies.  Small and mid-tier miners are finding creative legal ways to invest in the Indonesian mining industry that allows them to mitigate various management risks of the business operation.

This article outlines some of the foreign investment entities in the Indonesian exploration, mining and processing industry, and Indonesian entities investing in foreign mining projects. The purpose of this article is for the public to realize that foreign investment in exploration, mining and smelting is ongoing.

Exploration and construction.

Baru Gold Corp (Formally East Asia Minerals) announced on the Canadian Stock Exchange (TSX) in Oct 2021, that it continues to raise capital, with a $1.6 million private placement. Baru Gold corp has two gold projects in Indonesia. 1) Sangihe, with a 70% working interest in the tenements [PT. Tambang Mas Sangihe] and is the operator with 3 Indonesian companies holding the remaining 30%. A 25,000 m infill and exploration drilling program started in late 2021.  Plan to commence production of 1,000 oz Au per month in 2021 via heap leach operation oxides and increase resource through drilling. 2) Miwah project is located in Aceh province, with 20,000 m drilled and total exploration expenditure of US$ 60 million, suggesting more than 10 mill oz of gold.

Far East Gold has issued a prospectus (ASX: FEG) for new shares (end 2021) to raise up to A$12 million for 3 projects in Australia, and 3 gold projects in Indonesia. 1) The Woyla Copper Gold Project is a 6th generation Contract of Work in the Aceh, [PT. Woyla Aceh Minerals] that was previously explored by Barrick Gold (1996-1998) and then by Newcrest (1999-2002).  Far East Gold has secured the right to acquire 80% economic interest in the project. 2) The Trenggalek Copper Gold [PT. Sumber Mineral Nusantara] with an IUP OP in East Java has more than 17,700m of drilling completed and hosts several large-scale porphyry and epithermal prospects. Far East Gold has secured the right to acquire 100% economic interest in the project. 3) Wonogiri Copper Gold Project is a IUP Exp [PT. Alexis Perdana Mineral] in Central Java. This advanced project has a JORC 2012 resource estimate for gold and copper. Far East Gold has secured the right to acquire a 100% economic interest in the project.

Nickel Mines Limited of Australia;

• Signed (Dec 2021) a Conditional Share Purchase Agreement (‘CSPA’) to acquire 100% of the Tablasufa Nickel Project for US$ 8.5 million, with Bolt Metals Corp, a company listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange (‘CSE’), which holds a 65% interest in PT Tablasufa Nickel Mining (‘TNM’) and PT Best Resources, which holds the remaining 35% interest. Previous exploration in Tablasufa (West Papua) from 1952 to 2021 includes 1,633 augur and 189 core holes and 26 test pits. Exploration undertaken by Bolt from 2017 includes 657 augur and 123 core holes and 11 test pits.
• In September 2021 Nickel Mines Limited signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with Iriana Mutiara Mining (IMM) for the staged acquisition of a 100% stake in the Siduarsi nickel-cobalt project in Indonesia. The Australian firm will cover the cost of the exploration programme as part of its due diligence. The amount will be credited towards earn-in expenditure if the company signs a joint venture agreement. Siduarsi is a 6th generation contract of work (CoW).
• Nickel Mines holds an 80% interest in the share capital of PT Hengjaya Mineralindo (‘PT Hengjaya’), an Indonesian PMA company. The remaining 20% interest in PT Hengjaya is owned by the Company’s Indonesian partner, the Wijoyo family. PT Hengjaya holds a 100% interest in the Hengjaya IUP nickel mining project (‘Hengjaya Mine’), located in the Morowali Regency, on the east coast of the province of Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. In 2018 the Hengjaya Mine secured an offtake contract to supply a Tsingshan for 50,000 wmt/month with cut off grade 1.60% Ni. The HM Mine is one of the largest tonnage, high grade operations in close proximity to the IMIP in central Sulawesi. Using a 0.8% Ni cut-off grade, the HM Mine hosts a JORC compliant resource of 185 million dry tonnes at 1.3% Ni and 0.08% Co, containing 2,405,000 tonnes of contained nickel and 148,500 tonnes of contained cobalt. By the September 2019 quarter, following the commissioning and ramp-up period across the March and June 2019 quarters, Hengjaya Nickel’s production run rate expanded to a targeted production rate of 1,375t Ni per month (16,500tpa Ni).

 Asiamet Resources Limited (London Stock Exchange- LSX) announced (November 2021) to enter into Heads of Agreement with PT Delta Dunia Makmur Tbk. (“DOID”). The MOU would see DOID contribute $50 million towards the development of the BKM copper project, in exchange for an interest of up to 51% in Asiamet’s wholly owned subsidiary, Indokal Limited. Indokal Limited is the owner of the KSK Contract of Work, located in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. The PT. Kalimantan Surya Kencana (KSK) licence includes a large number of gold and gold-copper targets including the Beruang Kanan Main (BKM) copper cathode project. The project has JORC reserves of 303 kt of contained copper and further resources.

Asiamet Resources Limited (LSX) holds an 80% interest in the Beutong porphyry copper gold project (“Beutong”) located in Aceh. In January 2018, Asiamet and its Indonesian partner PT Emas Mineral Murni (EMM) were granted the key production licence. The Beutong license is held by PT Emas Mineral Murni (“EMM”). PT EMM is owned 80% by Beutong Resources Pte Ltd. (“Beutong Singapore”) a Singapore company. Beutong Singapore is owned 50% by Tigers Real Copper Singapore No. 1 Pte Ltd. (“Tigers Singapore”). Tigers Singapore is owned 100% by Asiamet Resources Limited. Therefore, Asiamet holds an effective 80% interest in the Beutong IUP. PT Media Mining Resources (“PTM”) owns the remaining 20% of the shares of PT EMM. Beutong has JORC compliant Resources containing 2.4Mt (5.3Blb) copper, 2.1Moz gold and 20.6Moz silver on a 100% basis and 1.95Mt (4.30Blb) copper, 1.69Moz gold and 16.73Moz silver on an 80% attributable basis.

Cokal Limited (ASX: CKA) owns 60% of PT. Bumi Barito Mineral (BBM) with a JORC resource statement of 266 million ton of potentially coking coal, and has entered into agreement s to acquire 75% interest in the exploration tenement of Tambang Benua Raya (TBAR), and 60% interest in PT. Borneo Bara Prima (BBP), and 75% interest in PT. Anugerah Alam Katingan (AAK). Cokal developed a definitive feasibility study in 2014, followed by construction of a haul road in challenging terrain and plans to produce regular shipments in 2022.

PT Dairi Prima Mineral (DPM) holds a Contract of Work (CoW) in North Sumatra, and obtained a Production Operation Permit in 2017, for an underground zinc mining project, along with associated ores of galena (lead & silver). The Anjing Hitam underground zinc mine development, after dilution, will recover 5.88 million tonnes of ore at around 25.3% per tonne zinc equivalent. The project is 51% owned by China Nonferrous Metal Industry’s Foreign Engineering and Construction Co. Ltd (NFC – traded on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange) and 49% by PT Bumi Resources Minerals Tbk. DPM said it will raise 80% of the mine’s cost, approximately $366 million, through loans from banks. NFC will be the primary “off-taker,” or purchaser and distributor, of the zinc ore mined in Indonesia.

Indonesian Producing Mines.

The PYX Resources announcement of 9 November 2021 of its dual listing on the London (LSX) & Australian (NSX:PYX) exchanges. The announcement includes; A) Market capitalisation of the Company will be approximately £358.4m/ Au$14 million, and B) The group was the 2nd largest publicly producing mineral sands company by zircon resources with a JORC compliant mineral resource of 263.5 Mt2. PYX Resources has raised new capital based upon its Indonesian (Zr) & Australian mining projects. PYX acquired 100% of the issued capital of Takmur Pte Ltd (Takmur) and will conduct exploration and development programs on its flagship Mandiri Project in Central Kalimantan, for mineral sands and zircon processing plant. This was followed by the acquisition of the Tisma zircon project.

Mineral processing / smelting.

This article considered investment in major processing / smelting infrastructure as different to that of standard MET’s investment, wherein such “bricks & mortar” investment are project specific, and must remain in Indonesia.

Air Products and Chemical Inc of America, is reported (February 2022) to invest in the Rp 33 trillion coal-to-dimethyl ether (DME) project with PT. Bukit Asam (PTBA) plus PT. Pertamina in Muara Enim, South Sumatra. Under the cooperation, Air Products & Chemicals Inc. will be the investor in terms of technology and development, PTBA will supply coal as the raw material for DME, and PT Pertamina (Persero) will become the off-taker of the product.  The plant is to be constructed in 36 months.

Nickel Mines, an ASX listed company, holds the Hengjaya Nickel [80% interest for US$ 180 million] and Ranger Nickel [60% interest for US$ 210 million] projects, both of which operate 2-line Rotary Kiln Electric Furnace (‘RKEF’) plants producing NPI within the Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park (‘IMIP’). In 2021, Nickel Mines has also acquired the Angel Nickel project, [80% interest for about US$ 557.6 million] comprising of four 54 KVA RKEF lines and a 380MW power plant, currently being constructed at the Indonesia Weda Bay Industrial Park (‘IWIP’). In December 2021 Nickel Mines announced the signing of a Definitive Agreement with Shanghai Decent to acquire the Oracle Nickel project [70% interest for US$ 525 million], a development project comprising four RKEF lines with annual nameplate capacity of 36,000 tonnes of nickel and ancillary facilities. Oracle Nickel will also separately undertake the construction of a 380MW captive power plant.

Brunp Catl Co. Ltd of Hong Kong, an affiliate of Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (“Brunp Catl”) aims to become a strategic investor with up to a 5% shareholding in Merdeka and shall form a strategic partnership in Indonesia. PT Merdeka Copper Gold Tbkmade an OJK announcement (Dec 21) to proposed a capital increase.  Merdeka and Brunp Catl contemplate the establishment of an investment platform for investments in mineral resources for the battery metals value chain.

Pt Anugrah Sejahtera Mining (PT ATS), a Singapore IPO company, invested in smelter (opened in December, 2019) in Central Sulawesi. Siload Nickel ltd. acquired PT ATS through its subsidiary Pt Engineering Alum Service, wherein the company obtained the IUP concession mining license and production license of 1301 hectares.

PT.Smelting, a joint venture between Mitsubishi Materials and Freeport Indonesia, has started (2022) construction on a $231m copper smelting facility expansion project.

Chinese companies investing in nickel smelting.

PT Tsingshan Steel Indonesia (“Tsingshan Indonesia”) is part of Tsingshan Holding Group “Tsingshan”), based in Wenzhou, China. In 2017; Tsingshan invests $2.8 billion to build a high-capacity ferronickel smelter plant in Indonesia with annual production capacity of 2 million tons of stainless steel. In 2019; Tsinghan works with PT Vale Indonesia Tbk to build a $700 million battery-grade nickel plant in Indonesia with annual nickel production capacity of 50,000 tons. Tsingshan has also invested in PT. Sulawesi Mining Investment for NPI. Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt Co., Ltd. (“Huayou”)engages in the mining, selection and metallurgy of non-ferrous metals. In 2019; Huayou cooperated with PT Aneka Tambang Tbk (“Antam”) and Shandong Xinhai to develop nickel projects that will require an investment of about $6 billion to $12 billion. China National Machinery Import invested (2016) with PT. Indoferro for NPI. China Wanxiang invested with PT. Wanxiang Nickel Indonesia to produce ferronickel & NPi. Fujian Pan-Chinese Mining Co. Ltd. Invested with PT. Bintang Smelter Indonesia for NPI. Jiangsu Delong Nickel Ind Co. Ltd invested with PT. Virtue Dragon Industry for Ferronickel. China Huadi Nickel-Alloy invested with PT. Huadi Nickel-Alloy Indonesia for NPI.

Indonesian invests in Australian mines.

PT Delta Dunia Makmur Tbk (DOID) through its subsidiary, PT Bukit Makmur Mandiri Utama (BUMA Australia Pty Ltd), has completed (Dec 2021) the acquisition of the Open Cut East (OCE) mining business from Australia’s Downer EDI Ltd. The acquisition cost up to Aus$139 million. This business action is fully funded by a loan facility from Bank Mandiri. Mining East’s portfolio consists of four mine sites in Queensland. BUMA will own 90% of Open Cut Mining East’s shares with the remaining 10% is controlled by AGDM Investments Pty Ltd. Mining East has a production capacity to produce 10.5 million tons of coking coal.

PT. Dian Swastatika Sentosa Tbk (IDX: DSSA) acquired BHP’s 80% interest in BHP Mitsui coal Pty Ltd (BMC). DSSA acquires BCM shares through its subsidiary Stanmore Resources Ltd (ASX:SMR), a subsidiary of Singapore listed Golden Energy Resources Ltd. The acquisition will cost US$1.2 billion, with funds derived from US$ 625 million syndicated loan and US$ 600 million equity. BCM owns the South Walker Creek and Poitrel mines in Queensland, as well as the undeveloped Wards Well coal project. The BCM high quality metallurgical coal mines with JORC compliant mineral resources of 2,245 million ton and total reserve of 171 million ton for open cut operations, and transport rights for 10.5 million tpa rail and Hay Point coal facility.

March Energy (Anthony Salim’s company) acquired the Mount Pleasant coal project (Australia) in January 2016 for $224mn plus royalties as part of UK-Australian mining firm Rio Tinto’s plan to divest all of its coal assets. Mount Pleasant is an 8milliontpa high-grade thermal coal mine in New South Wales (NSW) has applied to expand the mine to 17 million tpa.

Droxford group, (linked to Anthony Salim) acquired (May 2016) Atlantic Vanadium Pty Ltd (AVPL) Windimura vanadium mine in Western Australia, and so saved on of the world’s largest vanadium mines from bankruptcy.  Negotiations at that time included an offer of an injection of funds from Anthoni Salim’s investment company, Droxford International, amounting to US$ 33 million to Atlantic. The Atlantic has a 2012 JORC compliant resource and reserve statement, and will produce 7,600 tonnes of high purity vanadium pentoxide flake. The project is on care and maintenance, awaiting refurbishing of the process plant.

Indonesian Australian invests in Indonesia.

Anthony Salim used a number of vehicles to gain a 60% control of Robust Resources Ltd (ASX:ROL) in a 2014 deal worth Aus$ 96 million. Salim’s companies later secured 100% ownership of Robust in partnership with British financier Ilyas Khan. Robust Resources has two large projects on Romang Island, both concentrated on volcanic centres. Wide zones of gold-zinc-silver-lead-copper mineralisation have been identified, along with JORC resources of manganese.

Rajawali Group (Nov 2012) acquired 250 million shares or 57.12% (Au$50 million) of Indo Mines Limited (Indo Mines), a listed mining company on Australia Stock Exchange (ASX: IDO). Indo Mines owned 70% shares in PT. Jogja Magasa Iron, an iron sand mining company with exploration site in Kulon Progo, Yogyakarta. Indo Mines other major shareholder is Rockcheck Steel Group Co., Ltd, one of China’s largest privately owned iron and steel producers.

PT. Saratoga Investamam Sedaya Tbk provided a further US$500,000 funding (Jan 2022) for Sihayo Gold Limited (ASX: SIH) to continue exploration with its 10,000 m drilling program over several gold prospects in 2021 in the PT. Sorikmas Mining Contract of Work.

PT. Merdeka Copper Gold Tbk took effective ownership [from Flinders Resources Limited (ASX: FND)] in June 2021, of the Wetar copper mine through 78% ownership of PT. Batutua Tembaga Raya (BTR). and 84.6% of Batutua Kharisma Permai (BKP). In Jun 2021, PT Merdeka Copper Gold. Tbk (‘TBIG’) has moved to 100% ownership of the Wetar Copper Mine as a result of the acquisition of Posco Internationals 22% interest. On 10 February 2021, the Company signed a conditional Sale and Purchase Agreement for the plan to purchase Posco’s shares in BTR (22%) by the Company and its subsidiary appointed by the Company, BPI. A joint venture agreement with an affiliate of Tsingsham where Wetar shall supply pyrite ores to a planned acid plant in Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park (“IMIP”) in Central Sulawesi.

United Tractors acquired a 95% stake in the Martabe gold mine in North Sumatra from Singapore-based Agincourt Resources for about $1.14 billion in 2018. Martabe, is one of Indonesia’s largest gold mines, with a potential reserve of up to 4.5 million tons of gold and produces about 350,000 tons of gold a year. Previously (2015) Agincourt Resources (a consortium led by EMR Capital with Farallon Capital and two Indonesian investors) acquired Martabe from the Hong Kong listed G-Resources for $775 million.

Foreign investors leaving Indonesian mining projects.

The Lion Selection Group (LSX, with some Australian management) sold its 33% stake in the joint venture holding the Pani Gold Project in Sulawesi for US$ 52 million (Jan 2022). This sale removes further expenditure obligations for Lion’s ongoing feasibility study.

Kingsrose Mining Limited (ASX listed) announced in January 2022, a plan to divest all or part of its 80% interest in Way Linggo Gold Project in Lampung [PT. Natarang Mining] as production ceased in 2020, while ongoing exploration does not meet the company’s strategic economic threshold.

Investor paths in Mining.

Private Equity firms are globally linked and play a significant role in supporting the growth of the larger Indonesian mines, and Indonesian miners’ entry into overseas mines. Some examples are;

• Provident Capital Partners (Singapore) with PT. Saratoga Investment Sedaya has and built three multi-billion-dollar businesses in Indonesia, including Merdeka Copper Gold Tbk and its subsidiaries. These private equity parties are shareholders in, a number of Indonesian mining companies, including PT. Antam (Persero) & PT. Dwinad Nusa Sejahtera’s (DNS) Sumatra Copper & Gold in South Sumatra.
• The acquisition of Australia’s two coal mines from BHP Mitsui Coal was undertaken with hedge funds and private equity firms – Varde Partners, Canyon Capital and Farallon Capital – to lend $625 million. And Stanmore’s 75% owner, Singapore-based Golden Energy and Resources provided at least 50% of the equity to pay for the rest and guarantee almost half the overall price tag.

The Indonesian Stock Exchange (IDX) is targeted by smaller Indonesian miners (with reserves and production) with initial listing capital raising (at a listing cost of perhaps US$ 0.5 million), and then opt for ongoing funding through the bond market. There is a limited option for small Indonesian explorers (no reserves / production) to enter the IDX through a Reverse Take Over of a clean shell listed company (for perhaps US$ 2 million).

One avenue for Indonesian exploration companies may be to list on selected foreign stock exchanges in Canada, Australia, London etc where resource & reserve statements may not be required. Indonesia is yet to develop a suitable platform for raising public funds for exploration companies, wherein many companies may rely upon a private individual investor.

Conclusion.

The most important conclusion is that a number of foreign investors are returning to invest in exploration, mining and smelting companies. Many smaller IUP companies are failing to find local or foreign investors, and are headed towards termination.

The new era of big investors includes the many China & Australian companies developing the nickel industry. Some global Private Equity parties are now investing in developed Indonesian mining and smelting projects.

It typically takes a long time for foreign investment in exploration and mining companies to find a suitable local partner, develop a management structure, understand the resource potential of the target area, and appreciate the ESG factors. The time table for the government auction system is apparently too short to meet most responsible foreign investor’s needs, in order to participate in such auctions.

It is very common for an existing exploration project to go through a number of change of ownership / investors, with a number of exploration programs before a viable ore body can be defined, or an ore body / mine can be expanded. The recent regulations on registering change of shareholders, and change of directors, can slow down foreign parties’ ability to invest. Most parties seek to set up complicated ownership & management structures that often involve an offshore intermediate company, therein taking more time and overheads.