Three smelters set to begin operation this year

At least three smelting plants, two in South Kalimantan and another one in South Sulawesi, will begin commercial operation this year, Investor Daily reported Saturday.

Dede Ida Suhendra, Director for the Development of Mineral and Coal Mining Companies at the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, said that the two smelters in South Kalimantan which were owned by PT Sebuku Iron Laterit Ores and PT Mandan Steel, respectively, would process iron and nickel ores.

Meanwhile, the other smelter currently being built by PT Bintang Delapan Mineral in Central Sulawesi, would be for processing of nickel ores.

?The construction of the three smelters indicate the confidence of the investors in downstream mining industry,? he said.

The smelter owned by PT Sebuku Iron Laterit Ores (Silo) will process iron ores from the company?s iron ore mine in Sebuku island, Kotabaru, South Kalimantan, while the smelter owned by PT Mandan Steel would process nickel ores from Tanah Bumbu, South Kalimantan.

?Meanwhile, the smelter owned by PT Bintang Delapan Mineral will process nickel ores from Bohodopi, Morowali regency in Central Sulawesi,? he said. (*)