Akar Mas to boost nickel output by 50%

By Thomas Sembiring

Nickel mining firm PT Akar Mas Internasional, which operates two nickel concessions in Southeast Sulawesi, plans to increase nickel ore production by 50 percent this year.

Harun Basnafal, President Director of Akar Mas told Petromindo.com on Monday that the company last year produced around 2 million tons of nickel ores from its 235 hectares concession in Pomalaa.

The company?s other concession, around 2,600-ha in Tabaena, has yet to start production.

Harun said that reserves at the Pomalaa mine currently stands at around 10 million tons.

Akar Mas is one of a number of nickel mining firms which have become member of the newly-launched Indonesia Nickel Miners Association (APNI), a lobby group which aims to help miners in dealing with buyers and in communicating with the government.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak