Antam on schedule to operate FeNi III

State owned mining company PT Aneka Tambang (Antam)is on schedule to begin the operation of its newly built ferronickel processing plant FeNi III in the second weeks of November, this year.

Antam?s president director Deddy Adiyta Soemanegara said in Jakarta on Tuesday that the new plant, the third to be operated by the company in its nickel mine in Southeast Sulawesi, would have a capacity to produce about 14,000 tons of ferronickel per year.

Deddy also said that the company was preparing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Japanese investors for the development of a chemical grade alumina (CGA) plant in Tayan, South Kalimantan.

Deddy earlier said that the construction of the CGA project would cost Antam about US$220 million. About $145 million of the total funds would be financed with export credits. (godang)