Antam starts operating new power plant and ladle furnace

State mining company PT Antam Tbk started on Friday, 31st May 2013, the operation of its diesel fueled power plant (PLTD) at the capacity of 2x17 megawatt (MW) and a new ladle furnace to optimize the processing and refining of ferronickel in its plant in Pomalaa, Southeast Sulawesi.

The new power plant, with a total investment of US$35.8 million, will increase its power generation as Antam has previously operated several units of diesel fueled power plants with a total generation capacity of 6x17 MW since 2007.

The new power plant will also meet the increase of power demand for its ferronickel (FeNi) processing plant in Pomalaa from 17 MW to 38 MW.

The new ladle furnace, which is developed with an investment of US$10.4 million, will support its expansion of the Pomalaa plant (P2FP). ?It will improve the plant performance in processing, refining the ferronickle, and also increase the efficiency of its P2FP project,? the company said in a press statement on Friday.

P2FP project consists of 8 packages of work, namely package 1 for jetty and facilities, package 2 for belt conveyors, package 3 for FeNi Plant-1, package 4 for the ladle furnace, package 5 for ore preparation and calcination, package 6 for electric smelting furnace, package 7 for oxygen plant, and package 8 for the construction new coal-fired power plant (PLTU) at the capacity of 2x30 MW.

The company said that the EPC project of the P2FP is proceeding on track, on budget, and on quality expected. ?So far it's been about 23 percent completed ,? it said.

Editing by Benget Besalicto Tnb.