10-K/APeriod: FY2001

FREEPORT-MCMORAN INC Annual Report (Amendment), Year Ended Dec 31, 2001

Filed June 18, 2002For Securities:FCX

Summary

Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. (FCX) filed an amendment to its 2001 10-K annual report, primarily to include automatic links to maps and charts. The company remains one of the world's largest copper and gold producers, with its main operations in Indonesia through its subsidiary PT Freeport Indonesia. The Grasberg mine in Papua, Indonesia, contains significant copper and gold reserves. Key developments in 2001 and early 2002 include the repayment of a $253.4 million loan guaranteed by FCX for PT Nusamba Mineral Industri, which also resulted in FCX increasing its ownership in PT Freeport Indonesia to approximately 90.6%. The company also highlighted its strong performance in copper production costs, achieving a record-low of $0.07 per pound, attributed to higher gold credits and improved operational efficiencies. However, lower copper price realizations and projected lower gold grades in 2002 present challenges. The company is also undertaking a reclassification of its Class A and Class B common stock into a single class of common stock to simplify its capital structure.

Key Highlights

  • 1FCX's primary operations are in Indonesia at the Grasberg mine, which holds substantial copper and gold reserves.
  • 2The company increased its ownership in PT Freeport Indonesia to approximately 90.6% after repaying a $253.4 million loan guaranteed for PT Nusamba Mineral Industri.
  • 3FCX achieved a record-low average net cash production cost of $0.07 per pound of copper in 2001, driven by higher gold credits and efficiency improvements.
  • 4Despite operational successes, lower copper price realizations in 2001 and anticipated lower gold grades in 2002 may impact future financial results.
  • 5The company is proposing to reclassify its Class A and Class B common stock into a single class to simplify its capital structure and improve liquidity.
  • 6Exploration activities outside of current mining operations in Block A remain temporarily suspended due to safety, security, and legal uncertainties related to forest preservation areas in Indonesia.
  • 7The company's financial performance is subject to significant commodity price fluctuations (copper and gold) and geopolitical risks associated with operating in Indonesia.

Frequently Asked Questions

Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.'s (FCX) primary operational focus is its copper and gold mining operations in Indonesia through its majority-owned subsidiary, PT Freeport Indonesia. The Grasberg mine in Papua is the company's main asset.

FCX repaid a $253.4 million loan it had guaranteed for PT Nusamba Mineral Industri. This action resulted in FCX acquiring Nusamba's ownership stake in PT Indocopper Investama, thereby increasing FCX's total ownership in PT Freeport Indonesia to approximately 90.6%.

In 2001, FCX achieved a record-low average net cash production cost of $0.07 per pound of copper. This was attributed to higher credits from gold sales and reduced site production costs.

The company identifies significant risks related to commodity price fluctuations (copper and gold), geopolitical and economic instability in Indonesia, potential changes in government regulations and contracts, and operational risks associated with its remote and challenging mining environment.