Antam to complete commissioning of ferronickel project soon

IDX-listed mining company PT Aneka Tambang Tbk (Antam) hopes to be able to complete the ongoing commissioning process of its ferronickel smelter expansion project in Pomalaa, Kolaka Regency, Southeast Sulawesi, later this month or early next month, Bisnis Indonesia reported on Friday.

The paper quoted Antam Corporate Secretary Tri Hartono as saying that the commissioning is currently at the final stage, which is the trial operation of a 2x30 MW coal-fired power plant. ?It is expected to be completed end of March or early April,? he said.

The US$600 million expansion project will increase Antam?s ferronickel production capacity from 18,000-20,000 tons per year to 27,000-30,000 tons per year.

The expanded production capacity will lower production cost, which in turn will make Antam as the lowest cost ferronickel producer. (*)