Antam?s FeNi III plant to resume operation in November

JSX-listed state miner PT Aneka Tambang (Antam) said its ferronickel plant FeNi III would resume full operation by the end of November following complete repair of metal tap hole.

Antam?s director for finance Kurniadi Atmosasmito said in Jakarta Wednesday that the full production of FeNi III plant was expected to increase the company?s nickel output to between 22,000 tons and 24,000 tons of ferronickel next year, up from this year?s target of between 13,000 tons and 16,000 tons.

Last month the company?s president director Deddy Aditya Sumanegara said that the fixing of the plant?s leaked metal tap hole almost completed and would resume operation on October.

On May, Antam said it had been notified by FeNi III EPC contractor that a leak from the metal tap hole of the smelter would require a shutdown for repairs lasting around three months.

The metal tap hole is located at the bottom of the furnace, where molten crude ferronickel is extracted from the furnace during a ?metal tap?.

Antam operates 3 units of smelters in Pomalaa, South East Sulawesi. (godang)