Antam was established in 1968 by the Indonesian government under
Suharto by merging multiple state-owned mining companies. It became a
limited company in 1974, and began listing in the
Jakarta Stock Exchange in 1997. In 2017, its ownership was transferred from the Indonesian government (which controlled 65 percent of the company's shares) to Inalum in a move intended to create a national holding company. Due to a government ban on the export of unprocessed ores, Antam began construction of smelter facilities for ferronickel and alumina. In 2020, it was announced that Antam would form a joint venture with
Pertamina and
PLN to form an
electric vehicle battery company, to be dubbed Indonesia Baterai. Antam's position in the venture is as a provider of upstream raw materials and metals. There are plans for the company to partner with
Contemporary Amperex Technology and
LG Energy Solution in two projects worth US$ 12 billion. In January 2025, six former Antam executives were charged with corruption for alleged mismanagement and fraudulent activities involving 109 tons of gold between 2010 and 2022, causing losses of Rp3.31 trillion ($203.19 million). The
London Bullion Market Association is also reviewing the allegations against Antam. Antam denies producing counterfeit gold. ==Operations==