PT Vale IGP Pomalaa Records First Nickel Ore Sales
A sustainable nickel company, PT Vale Indonesia Tbk (PT Vale), part of the Mining Industry Indonesia (MIND ID), has recorded its first nickel ore sales from the Indonesia Growth Project (IGP) Pomalaa.
This achievement marks an important phase in the project’s transition from construction to an operational revenue-generating phase, whilst strengthening Indonesia’s position in the global critical mineral supply chain.
Beyond a mere operational milestone, this first sale represents a strategic step in project de-risking, validation of production system readiness, and reinforcement of the company’s long-term growth fundamentals.
Nickel is a key component in lithium-ion batteries, particularly for high-nickel cathodes used in electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage systems. With accelerating global electrification and energy transition, nickel demand is projected to continue increasing over the coming decade.
Indonesia, as one of the world’s largest holders of nickel reserves, plays a strategic role in this ecosystem. IGP Pomalaa forms part of the national downstream processing agenda, which aims to increase domestic value addition through integration of mining and processing.
With integrated investment valued at approximately Rp74.44 trillion, IGP Pomalaa is one of the strategic projects strengthening the foundation of the national nickel industry whilst enhancing Indonesia’s competitiveness in the global market.
This first sale was made possible through activation of an ore stockpile area in Pit PB5 and Pit PB1, designed to optimise material flow and maintain production stability.
Both pits have storage capacity of up to 4 million wet metric tonnes (Mwmt) of limonite ore, providing significant inventory flexibility and ensuring sustained supply to the processing facility in Pomalaa.
Muhammad Asril, Director and Chief Project Officer of PT Vale Indonesia Tbk, stated: “The activation of the stockpile area in Pits PB5 and PB1 is a strategic step to maintain production pace and ensure optimal material distribution. With our accelerated infrastructure support, we ensure that IGP Pomalaa’s targets remain aligned with operational excellence principles and sustainable mining practices.”
This activation of large-scale stockpile capacity strengthens supply stability for raw materials, logistics resilience amid commodity market volatility, and readiness for full production operations.
By March 2026, IGP Pomalaa targets limonite production of 300,000 tonnes per month, or approximately 9,677 tonnes per day. This ramp-up strategy is executed with discipline to ensure operational sustainability and production capacity optimisation.
With storage capacity of 4 Mwmt and a monthly production target, the project has adequate inventory buffer to maintain consistent supply whilst reducing operational disruption risks.
Infrastructure progress and capital efficiency acceleration of infrastructure development has been prioritised to maintain efficiency and capital discipline. By January 2026, overall construction progress for IGP Pomalaa had reached 65.76 per cent, demonstrating on-track project execution.
Meanwhile, construction of the Main Haul Road (MHR) to stockpile has reached 40 per cent. This route forms the backbone of material distribution from the mining area to the processing facility and port, which will ultimately increase hauling productivity and reduce potential logistics bottlenecks.
This progress strengthens the project’s capital efficiency profile and increases visibility of medium and long-term cash flows.
This step also aligns with the national downstream processing strategy, which promotes domestic processing and industry integration from upstream to downstream to create higher value addition domestically.
As part of MIND ID, PT Vale remains committed to delivering competitive, integrated, and sustainable nickel industry growth whilst creating long-term value for shareholders and all stakeholders.