Antam suspends operation

Antam suspends operation

SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): Indonesian nickel producer PT Aneka Tambang, or Antam, has temporarily suspended operations at one of its two ferronickel smelters following a small explosion Tuesday, the company said in a statement Thursday.

The smelter, known as FeNI I, was producing 420 metric tons of nickel a month. All Antam smelters are located in Southeast Sulawesi. Operations at the other smelter are unaffected.

A plant worker suffered from burns and is being treated at a hospital, and there is no environmental damage from the accident, the statement said.

"A technical problem within the electric furnace shell caused a burst, which damaged the furnace cover, although the exact extent of the damage is still being determined."

The company is investigating the precise cause of the accident, according to the statement.