NUSA DUA, Indonesia, May 8 (Reuters) - The Indonesian unit of Freeport McMoran Inc FCX.N would remain the operator of the Grasberg copper mine in Papua after a deal is reached to a divest a controlling stake, the head of state mining holding company PT Inalum said on Tuesday.
Inalum, which is due to arrange the funding for the deal, already had a "committed" loan for the overall transaction with Freeport and Rio Tinto (LON:RIO) RIO.AX for the majority stake in Grasberg, Budi Gunadi Sadikin told a briefing on the sidelines of the Coaltrans Asia conference in Bali.
Commenting on the timing of a deal, he said that "as far as when it happens, please pray for us, but we're getting closer and closer."