Usaha Maju to build a zirconium smelter in Central Kalimantan
Monday, November 19 2012 - 02:22 AM WIB
Zirconium silicate mining firm CV Usaha Maju plans to build a zirconium smelting plant near the company?s zirconium mine in Central Kalimantan as part of the company?s program to comply with the mining law which will totally ban export of unprocessed mineral ores beginning 2014, Kontan reported on Monday.
The company?s President Director Ferry Alfiand said that the company was still processing the document on the analysis of the environmental impact of the smelting plant, which would have a processing capacity of 20,000 tons a month.
He said that the company would invest up to Rp 50 billion for the construction of the zirconium smelter.
Usaha Maju secured a mining permit in 2006 to develop a zirconium mine covering an area of 1,100 hectares in Central Kalimantan. The company has so far invested up to Rp 15 billion for the operation of the zirconium silicate mine and its processing facility.
Ferry said that about 95 percent of the zirconium silicate production are exported to China and Taiwan. (*)