Inco, Antam in talks over SE Sulawesi nickel joint venture
Tuesday, February 5 2002 - 08:07 AM WIB
State mining company Aneka Tambang Tbk. (Antam) said Tuesday that it is currently in talks with nickel miner PT International Nickel Indonesia Tbk. (Inco) over the possibility of forming joint venture to develop the latter?s nickel resource in Pomalaa, Southeast Sulawesi.
?We are working on it now,? said Dedi Aditya Sumanegara, Antam?s president.
The Pomalaa nickel prospect is too costly to be developed by Inco as the location is too far from its smelter, which is located in Soroako, South Sulawesi. The Pomalaa mining site is close to Antam?s FeNiIII nickel smelter, which is planned to start production by 2005.
Separately, Inco?s president Rumengan Musu said that the negotiation with Antam is handled directly by parent company Inco Limited and he said the negotiation would be concluded this year.(robert)