KONTAN.CO.ID - JAKARTA. State mining holding company Indonesia Asahan Aluminium (Inalum) is looking to cooperate with the metal industry in China to accelerate downstream mining operations.

Inalum president director Budi G. Sadikin said on a recent visit to China led by State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister Rini Soemarno, delegates met chief executive officers from metal companies.

“[We] are looking for opportunities for cooperation, which is in line with our strategic plan to accelerate the implementation of downstream mining operations,” said Budi in a press statement received on Friday.

In three of China’s cities -- Beijing, Inner Mongolia and Shanghai -- the delegates met representatives of several industries: the Metallurgical Corporation of China, Beijing Easpring Material Technology, coal gasification company Dalu Chemicals, cobalt chemical manufacturer Huayou and  Contemporary Amperex Technology Battery.

Rini stressed the need to accelerate the implementation of downstream mining operations to add value to mining products.

“The higher the added value of our mining products, the greater the benefits,” Rini said on Thursday.

In December, Inalum through PT Bukit Asam, the holding member, signed a head of agreement on a coal gasification project with state-owned energy holding Pertamina, fertilizer manufacturer PT Pupuk Indonesia and chemical producer PT Chandra Asri Petrochemical.

On her visit, Rini was accompanied by ministry undersecretary for mining, strategic industries and media affairs Fajar Harry Sampurno, undersecretary for financial, survey and consulting businesses Gatot Trihargo and expert staffer Wianda Pusponegoro.

Editor: Wahyu T.Rahmawati