PT Antam's production below target

JAKARTA (JP): State-owned mining company PT Aneka Tambang (Antam) produced 9,530 tons of ferro nickel from its nickel processing plant in Kolaka, Southeast Sulawesi, last year. This was about 10 percent below its 10,500 ton target.

Bahruddin B.S., manager of a processing plant in Pomala, about 200 kilometers north of the province's capital of Kendari, said yesterday the target was not reached because of a technical problem last March.

He did not elaborate.

He said Antam planned to produce 10,200 tons of ferro nickel this year. "But it's a bit difficult for us to realize this target as we have to repair the processing plant later this year," he was quoted by Antara as saying.

PT Antam has two units at its ferro nickel processing plant in Pomala with an 11,000 ton annual production capacity.

Despite a price drop on the world market last year, ferro nickel was still promising for his company, particularly because its plant had won ISO-9002 certification, he said.

The company exported its ferro nickel products to Europe and the Asia-Pacific region through the London Metal Exchange, he said.

The company also sells nickel ore to several Japanese companies, particularly Nippon Yakin, to supply Japan's ferro nickel processing plants.

He said the company's nickel ore exports last year reached 375,000 tons or 50 percent above its 250,000 ton target.

According to Bank Indonesia, last year's ferro nickel exports were worth US$45 million and nickel ore exports $12.5 million. (bnt)