PT Inco obtains permit to construct Karebbe hydro power plant
Tuesday, September 4 2007 - 01:04 AM WIB
Publicly nickel miner PT International Nickel Indonesia Tbk (Inco) said on Monday that the Minister of Forestry has issued a forestry permit for the company to construct and operate the planned 90 MW Karebbe hydropower plant on the Larona River in South Sulawesi.
The Karebbe hydropower plant was first announced by the company in October 2004 as a part of the company’s program to raise its annual production to about 200 million pounds (approximately 90,700 tonnes) of nickel in matte.
“It is expected that the company’s board of commissioners will meet shortly to consider the decision to resume construction of the project. We will provide further updates at that time”, PT Inco President and Chief Executive Officer, Arif Siregar said.
Construction on the facility was suspended in January 2006 pending the issuance of a final forestry permit by the Minister of Forestry with terms that support this significant long-term capital investment by PT Inco.
PT Inco produced 157.9 million pounds (approximately 71,700 tonnes) of nickel in matte in 2006.
The company currently operates two hydropower plants, that is the Larona hydropower plant with a capacity of 165 MW and the Balambano hydropower plant with a capacity of 110 MW. (denny)