PT Inco delays completion of Karebbe power plant project

IDX-listed nickel miner PT International Nickel Indonesia (Inco) will delay the completion of its Karebbe hydropower plant project in South Sulawesi.

The construction of the power plant is now expected to be completed in 2011, as against the initial schedule of 2009, President Director Arif Siregar said last week without providing reasons for the delay.

PT Inco obtained a forestry permit to construct the planned 90 MW Karebbe hydropower plant on the Larona River in South Sulawesi in September last year.

The new power plant will enable the company to raise its annual nickel in matte production to about 200 million pounds or approximately 90,700 tons. Last year, the firm produced a record high of 76,748 tons of nickel in matte or equivalent to 169.2 million pounds

The company currently operates two hydropower plants, that is the Larona hydropower plant with a power generation capacity of 165 MW and the Balambano hydropower plant with a capacity of 110 MW. (godang)