Vale says mechanical construction of Pomalaa HPAL nickel smelter complete

The physical and mechanical construction of the high pressure acid leach (HPAL) nickel smelter in Pomalaa Block, Kolaka, Southeast Sulawesi, has been completed and is now entering the commissioning phase, according to PT Vale Indonesia Tbk Chief Sustainability & Corporate Affairs Officer Budiawansyah.

“Construction is complete. One line has reached mechanical completion. In the context of mechanical completion, it is finished, 100 percent,” Budi said when met in Jakarta on Thursday.

Budi said the HPAL nickel smelter in Pomalaa Block now only needs to enter the trial operation phase.

Trial operation, he said, is only possible once the physical construction has been completed.

He added that the trial operation or commissioning test will not take long.

Therefore, Budi said the HPAL nickel smelter in Pomalaa Block is ready to operate.

“The trial will not take long. The important thing is that the physical structure is ready to operate. We are just waiting for an auspicious day,” Budi said.

Previously, PT Vale Indonesia Tbk was targeting the HPAL-based nickel smelter in Pomalaa to begin operations in the third quarter of 2026, ahead of its original target of the fourth quarter of 2026.

The HPAL nickel smelter in Pomalaa is targeted to produce 120,000 tonnes of nickel in the form of mixed hydroxide precipitate (MHP).

MHP is a greenish-grey powder containing a mixture of nickel and cobalt hydroxide, and serves as the main raw material for manufacturing electric vehicle (EV) batteries.

Mining activities in Pomalaa Block produce 7 million wet metric tonnes (wmt) of saprolite nickel ore and 21 million wmt of limonite per year.