PT Vale Insists Industry Must Be a Solution for Indonesia
PT Vale Indonesia Tbk (PT Vale), part of the MIND ID group, spoke with a clear message: industry must be a solution, not a burden, for Indonesia. Endra Kusuma, Head of External Relations, Regional and Growth at PT Vale Indonesia, representing management, said that global challenges present an opportunity to strengthen the foundations of the national industry. Throughout 2025, global nickel prices came under significant pressure. Yet, amid this, PT Vale maintained stable operational performance. By November 2025, nickel matte production reached 66,848 tonnes, up 3 per cent year on year. The company’s total revenue reached US$902 million.
The commitment is tangible through the Indonesia Growth Project (IGP), which has become a new growth engine for the company and a key part of the national downstream agenda. In Pomalaa, a project valued at around US$4.5 billion has achieved more than 65 per cent construction progress. The first sale of nickel ore at the end of February 2026 marked the project entering a more mature operational phase. With a stockpile capacity of up to 4 million wet metric tonnes (Mwmt) and an initial production target of 300,000 tonnes of limonite per month, Pomalaa is projected to become a crucial node in Indonesia’s nickel supply chain. The total integrated investment of nearly US$9 billion not only strengthens PT Vale’s position but also places Indonesia as a major player in the global EV battery and clean energy supply chain.
However, amid the focus on downstream, one issue that cannot be ignored is the environment. PT Vale recognises that sustainability is no longer an optional extra but a prerequisite. This is reflected in Sustainalytics’ ESG Risk Rating of 23.7 — classified as medium risk and the lowest in Indonesia for the mining sector. “Environmental issues should not be addressed defensively. They must be addressed with data, actions, and transparency,” said Vanda Kusumaningrum, Head of Corporate Communications at PT Vale Indonesia.
On the social front, the company notes that more than 99 per cent of its workforce are Indonesian citizens. Thousands of local workers and contractors are involved in strategic projects in Pomalaa, Morowali, and Sorowako. An organic farming programme, community-based waste management, operator training for heavy equipment, and the construction of a nursery with a capacity of one million saplings per year are part of efforts to strengthen local economies.
Against the backdrop of the rapid global energy transition and rising demand for nickel for electric vehicles, Indonesia sits in a strategic position. The question is no longer whether Indonesia has resources, but how those resources are managed. Through long-term investments, operational discipline, and consistent sustainability standards, PT Vale asserts one thing: the mining industry can grow without sacrificing its responsibilities.