Antam produces 20 M tons of nickel ores on Gebe Island, production to stop in 2005

Publicly listed general mining firm PT Aneka Tambang Tbk (Antam) has produced around 20 million tons of nickel ores on Gebe Island in North Maluku, which compares to an estimated 23 million tons of total reserve, said Antam operation director Harsojo Dihardjo as reported on Thursday by Neraca daily.

The 20 million tons of nickel ores have been produced since 1979 when Antam started commercial production on Gebe. Production is planned to end in 2005.

Antam , which is majority owned by the government, also mines for nickel in Pomalaa in Southeast Sulawesi and Tanjung Buli in Maluku.

Nickel accounts for around 65 percent of Antam?s total revenues. (*)