Timah to complete rare earth smelter next month
Friday, March 27 2015 - 12:54 AM WIB
IDX-listed tin giant PT Timah Tbk said it expected to complete the construction of its rare earth smelter in Tanjung Ular industrial zone in Bangka Belitung Province, in April.
?(Construction) To be complete in April, and God Willing, it can start production in June,? said Timah President Director Sukrisno on Thursday.
The Rp 20 billion plant would have a production capacity of 50 kg per day, processing slag from the company?s tin smelters.
A report earlier this month quoting company Corporate Secretary Agung Nugroho said that the commercial operation of the smelter would be delayed to August due to difficulties in bringing in the necessary machinery and equipment.
Sukrisno said that the rare earth smelter would provide significant extra revenue for the company as rare earth products are more valuable than tin, with price of 10-15 times larger than tin bars.
Among of the high economic value rare earth minerals are lanthanum (la), cerium (ce), praseodymium, (pr) and neodymium, all of which are important raw materials in telecommunications and technology equipment industries.
The company said previously that Japan has expressed interest to purchase the output of Timah?s rare-earth processing plant.
Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak