Antam to repair FeNI II in November

State mining company PT Aneka Tambang (Antam) expects a decline in nickel production this year due to regular shutdown of one of three smelters in the company?s nickel mine in Pomala,, Southeast Sulawesi later this year.

The company?s director for operation Winardi said in Jakarta last week that Feni II smelting plant would be temporarily shut down to allow repair works at its wall and roof. The repair will be carried out from November, this year through February, next year.

Antam has three smelting plants at the Pomalaa mine Feni I with a capacity of 300 tons of nickel, Feni II with a capacity of 500 tons of nickel and Feni III with a capacity of 900 tons of nickel per month.

The shutdown in the Feni II smelting plant would likely cause a decline in the production to 18,000 tons from 18,688 tons last year, Winardi said.

Antam said the company?s nickel ore exports to Japan reached 2.4 million tons per year, adding that the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan did not affect the company?s shipment. (giok)