SJSU to boost nickel ore output to 1m tons

By Thomas Sembiring

PT Sinar Jaya Sultra Utama (SJSU), which operates nickel mines in Konawe Utara, Southeast Sulawesi Province, said it plans to boost nickel ore production this year to 1 million tons.

?This year, production will be about 1 million tons,? said Herry Asihu, President Director of SJSU to Petromindo.com recently.

Herry said that last year, the company?s nickel ore output totaled 300,000 tons, and sold the output to meet demand in Morowali, Central Sulawesi, and in Cilegon, Banten.

SJSU has around 500-ha of nickel mines with estimated nickel ore deposits of around 8 million tons.

In terms of price outlook, Herry said that nickel price at the LME could rise to around US$13,000 per ton this year on production cuts in China and the Philippines.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak