theIndonesian – Vice Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Kartika Wirjoatmodjo said that Indonesia will independently produce gold bars up to 50 tons per year.
“Starting in May, God willing, we will produce gold domestically in Manyar, Gresik, 50 tons per year,” Deputy Minister Wirjoatmodjo said during the Grand Launching of The Gade Tower PT Pegadaian in Jakarta, Tuesday (7/5).
The man who is familiarly called Tiko said that previously to produce gold bars or bullion gold, Freeport needed to send concentrate to Japan, after which it was then brought back to Indonesia after processing.
“So in the past, the bullion was sent from Freeport to be molded in Japan and then returned to Indonesia,” Tiko said.
He explained that gold bar production could be carried out after the smelter owned by PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) in Gresik operates, which is targeted to start production in May 2024.
The Deputy Minister of SOEs assessed that currently major countries such as China, America are again looking at gold as an investment.
Especially in the midst of the geopolitical situation that is now increasingly unpredictable and asset prices that also fluctuate, many rich people are investing in gold again.
“I believe that gold is not a ‘sunset’. So friends read on Google at this time, in fact, big countries, China, America are even back to gold again because with the geopolitical situation which is now increasingly unpredictable and assets that also fluctuate in price, many asset management companies, rich people are investing in gold again,” said Tiko.
Tiko said that gold investment is an asset that will always exist and can even be an investment option that is resistant to inflation and global political turmoil.
“So in the world gold is increasingly becoming the center, and we are lucky that we are also from the BUMN ecosystem starting this year we can produce gold in Indonesia,” said Tiko.
Tiko added that investment opportunities with gold will be wide open because there will be a gold bank that will be managed by PT Pegadaian.
The Deputy Minister of SOEs requested that PT Pegadaian intensify the socialization of gold bank services or bullion services to the wider community. Often by seeking permission from the government regarding these services.
“Moreover, later there will be a bullion bank, cooperation between Pegadaian, with the Mind ID ecosystem, later it must be improved and improved so that we no longer import (gold),” said Tiko.
In the same place, Pegadaian President Director Damar Latri Setiawan said that currently the gold bank service is ready, it’s just that his party is still waiting for the Financial Services Authority (POJK) regulation regarding the implementation of the service.
“Currently, the bullion service for Pegadaian is ready with its products, but the POJK has not yet been issued, so we are waiting for the POJK,” said Damar.
He explained that the service allows customers to save in the form of gold and then get a margin from the gold stored.
Damar explained that with the proceeds from the gold savings, Pegadaian can provide gold loans to those in need. Thus, both manufacturers and individuals who need gold can get gold loan services from Pegadaian.
“For mechanisms, for example, people save gold and then get gold margins, or maybe gold entrepreneurs want to borrow gold, not money, borrow gold back gold, it can be done. And we also do it from the ecosystem, starting from miners, we can also fund it, then in the form of dore we can purify it, then we can regulate its distribution,” said Damar.
However, although the service is ready, Pegadaian has not officially launched it to the public because it is still waiting for the POJK related to the gold bank.
“And OJK wants to ensure the existing ecosystem first, for example the miners, the association, we are still waiting for that too,” said Damar.
The Indonesian
