China-funded aluminum company builds two-million-ton per year smelter

The governor of Riau Islands province's Lingga district recently traveled to China to promote the launch of a smelter project invested by Chinese company PT Thiansan Alumina Indonesia, a trip that raised public concern.He said that he received the invitation in 2021 and postponed it for nearly four years due to administrative process issues, and during the visit he also led technical department officials to communicate with business leaders and convey the demands of the local government.PT Thiansan Alumina Indonesia had considered investing in Kalimantan, Java and other parts of Sumatra, and finally chose Dabo Singkap, in the regency of Rinjar, as its investment center. In early 2025, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry has issued a permit for the construction of a 2 million tons per annum smelter, which specifies PT Thiansan's obligation to cooperate with the Indonesian Navy, and the regent is planning to meet with the Minister of Defense to advance the cooperation. The project is expected to create 3,000 jobs for the local community, which the governor emphasized is significant in reducing the poverty rate and providing employment opportunities, and is a new hope for regional development. He called on the people to work together to maintain regional stability and ensure the smooth construction of the project.