Timah to bolster capacity of rare earth plant

By Thomas Sembiring

IDX-listed tin giant PT Timah Tbk said that its rare earth mini plant in Tanjung Ular Mentok, West Bangka Regency, Bangka Belitung Province, which is currently at the commissioning stage, will be expanded into industry-scale operation in 2018.

?We have planned to develop an industry scale (operation) with (production capacity of) 500 tons per year,? said Timah President Director Sukrisno on Tuesday.

The rare earth mining plant currently has a tiny production capacity of 50 tons per year, he said.

Sukrisno said that considering rare earth products have much higher market price, such as rare earth hydroxide with price of times the price of tin ores, Timah is optimistic about the future of its rare earth plant.

The plant processes monazite, a by-product of tin production, into high value rare earth metals used as raw material in the production of high-tech manufacturing products such as magnets for hybrid cars, TVs, and smart phones.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak