Vale ensures Morowali and Pomalaa plants are operating according to target
Jakarta (ANTARA) - PT Vale Indonesia Tbk (INCO) has ensured that its high-pressure acid leach (HPAL) nickel processing plants in Morowali (Indonesia Growth Project/IGP Morowali) and Pomalaa are operating according to target, which is the end of 2026.
“For Morowali and Pomalaa, once again, according to target, God willing, in the near future, both plants will begin operations,” said the Director and Project Head of PT Vale Indonesia, Muhammad Asril, during an online public expose in Jakarta on Thursday.
Furthermore, Asril stated that the progress of the HPAL smelter project in Bahodopi, Morowali, Central Sulawesi, has advanced significantly.
He noted that IGP Morowali recently received two autoclaves, which serve as the core reactors within the HPAL facility.
The installation of these autoclaves represents a major milestone in the construction phase of the smelter project, which involves an investment value of US$2 billion.
“Regarding the HPAL, the two autoclaves that have arrived—the final autoclave for a production capacity of 60,000 tonnes (of nickel in mixed hydroxide precipitate/MHP)—will arrive at the end of this month or early October,” said Asril.
Meanwhile, he reported that the progress of the IGP Pomalaa project in Southeast Sulawesi is also showing positive improvement.
“For Pomalaa itself, the progress is more advanced; it is further along now and is currently in the commissioning stage for the HPAL, while the mining operations are already running and ready to supply limonite ore to the plant,” said Asril.
He continued that the HPAL plant in the PT Kolaka Nickel Indonesia (KNI) industrial area has an annual capacity of 120,000 tonnes of nickel in the form of MHP.
“God willing, in the near future, we will begin targeting and testing the plant with a capacity of 120,000 tonnes of MHP in Pomalaa,” he added.
Additionally, he stated that the development of the IGP Sorowako Limonite in South Sulawesi is also progressing well.
“As for Sorowako, the mining progress is quite good, and we have already begun stockpiling the limonite,” concluded Asril.