By Dominikus
Chinese industrial group Sichuan Tianfu Xinchuang has announced plans to develop an alumina refinery project in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, through its newly established subsidiary, PT Progressive Indonesia Alumina (PIA).
The company confirmed the development in a recent corporate announcement, stating that PIA was incorporated in 2024 as a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to spearhead the group’s expansion into Indonesia’s downstream mineral sector. The project will be located in Sampit Town, Central Kalimantan Province.
According to the company, the first phase of the refinery will involve the construction of a smelter-grade alumina plant with a production capacity of 1 million tons per year, supported by an integrated infrastructure network including logistics, energy, and site facilities. The total investment for the project is expected to exceed US$ 540 million.
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Sichuan Tianfu Xinchuang Group, established in 2003, has extensive business interests in metallurgy, oil and gas drilling, and lithium battery materials. The group generates nearly US$ 1 billion in annual revenue, and employs more than 2,000 people worldwide.
The planned alumina plant in Sampit will form part of a vertically integrated industrial chain, linking local bauxite mining to refined alumina production. Once operational, the project is expected to support Indonesia’s national goal of reducing reliance on bauxite exports and building a domestic value-added mineral ecosystem.
Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak
