50 nickel ore producers plan to build smelters
Friday, November 23 2012 - 12:57 AM WIB
Chairman of Indonesian nickel Association Syamsuddin Said said that 50 nickel ore producers had submitted proposals to build smelters to comply with the government policy in prohibiting export of raw material.
"The number could be increased to 52 or 53 companies as other small firms plan to jointly build the smelters," Syamsuddin told Petromindo.
He said that the association will coordinate with small-scaled nickel ore producers for the plan as it required huge financing.
Syamsuddin said that the association would hold a meeting with governors next month mainly in the eastern part of the country to discuss on the plan to build smelters.
The association previously opposed the government's program requiring miners to build smelter to increase added value of mining products.
Editing by Adianto P. Simamora