Antam begins tender of ferronickel smelter project

By Thomas Sembiring

IDX-listed mining company PT Aneka Tambang Tbk (Antam) has started a re-tender process to select contractor for the construction of its planned ferronickel smelter in East Halmahera Regency, North Maluku Province.

?Tender process is now in progress,? said Antam President Director Teddy Badrujaman, but did not say as to when the tender will be completed, and who the participants are.

He reiterated that the ferronickel project is targeted to be completed by end of 2018. According to company financial report, construction is slated to start in May of this year.

Meanwhile, Finance Director of the state-controlled company Dimas Wikan Pramudhito said that the tender process has to be repeated as there had been a significant reduction in the production capacity of the planned smelter from the initial plan of 40,000 TNi per year to around 13,500 TNi per year due to the limited equity injection from the government. Total investment for the smelter project is estimated at around Rp 3.5 trillion excluding funds for power plant.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak