GCL-Poly Energy of China to build nickel smelter

Chinese company GCL-Poly Energy Holding Limited plans to build a nickel smelter and a power plant with a capacity of 3,000 MW in Kalimantan, Bisnis Indonesia reported on Wednesday.

Kardaya Warnika, the director general of new and renewable energy at the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry said on Tuesday that the Chinese company expressed its interest to build the smelter and power plant during a meeting with Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Jero Wacik.

?The location for the smelter has not been decided but it will be likely in Kalimantan which has lots of sources of energy such as coal and gas,? he added.

GCL-Poly Energy Holdings Ltd is China's largest polysilicon and wafer maker. The company produces electricity from renewable energy such as biomass, wind and solar farms.

?The smelter would be built in Kalimantan, and nickel ores will be supplied from other areas such as Maluku and Sulawesi,? he said, adding that the smelter would be built to anticipate the government?s plan to ban exports of unprocessed minerals in 2014. (*)