Dayaindo says nickel ore mining resumed at Sulawesi mine
Wednesday, March 2 2011 - 02:25 AM WIB
Nickel ore mining activities at PT Anugerah Tompira Nikel, which was stopped from late 2009, has resumed since October 2010, the company said, adding that the mine is ready to supply ore to Queensland Nickel and to several Chinese customers.
The company did not give detail about production rate.
The company also said that development of heap-leach nickel smelter at the mine is delayed as it decided to initially construct pilot plant to test the effectiveness of heap-leach method.
It also reported that acquisition of ATN has been closed .
In June 2010, the company said it would acquire a 70 percent stake valued at Rp 350 billion in ATN, which has nickel concession in Banggai regency, Central Sulawesi.
The mine started commercial production in the last quarter of 2008 with initial shipment of 51,900 nickel ore sent to Australian-listed mining giant BHP Billiton. The mine was initially expected to produce 200,000 metric tons of nickel ore in 2010 and the output will be ramped up to 400,000 and 840,000 tons in 2011 and 2012, respectively, the company said in June 2010. (alex)