Bumi Konawe expects to produce ore nickel next year

By Cepi Setiadi

Indonesia based ore nickel mining company PT Bumi Konawe Mining is targeting to start ore nickel production by second quarter 2013 from its mine in Southeast Sulawesi.

Andrey Zyablikov, President Director of Bumi Konawe Mining told Petromindo.com that the company intensively performs explorations by enforcing more than 90 drills.

Zyablikov however refused to reveal the production target of the company. "It is difficult to say since we are still drilling, but our resources is about 20 to 30 million ton and we hope in the middle of the next year we will have our maiden production," Zyablikov said adding that the company has about 3,000 hectares of the concession.

He said that the ore will be sold to the domestic smelter. "We're still in the negotiation with the company which will build the smelter," he said.

Editing by Adianto P. Simamora