Antam signs EPC contract of electrodes equipment supply

State mining firm PT Antam Tbk said on Tuesday it signed an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract of electrodes equipment supply for the Electric Smelting Furnace Number 4 (ESF-4).

The EPC contract, signed with SMS Siemag Germany is part of Pomalaa Ferronickel Plant Expansion project.

The company said in the statement that EPC contract costs EUR5.45 million or approximately Rp75 billion with estimated construction period of 18 months.

Antam?s President Director, Tato Miraza, said, ?The supply of ESF-4 electrodes by SMS Siemag reflects our commitment in utilizing a modern, safer and more practical technology in the operations of the new furnace.?

The ESF-4 facility has an installed capacity of 38MW with ferronickel production capacity of around 9,450 TNi per year. Construction of ESF-4 is estimated to take a maximum of 22 months.

In line with development of ESF-4 and Ore Preparation Line-4, both of which are part of the Pomalaa Ferronickel Plants Expansion project, Antam expects annual ferronickel production at Pomalaa may increase to 25,000-27,000 TNi from previous production levels of 18,000-20,000 TNi with the assumption of 1.9 % nickel ore feed.

Editing by Adianto P. Simamora