Jakarta, October 2, 2014 - PT ANTAM (Persero) Tbk (ASX - ATM; IDX – ANTM; ANTAM) is pleased to announce the commissioning of the jetty, belt conveyor and refining facilities which are part of the Pomalaa Ferronickel Plant Expansion Project (P3FP). As of the end of August 2014, the overall Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) progress of the P3FP reached 68%.
ANTAM's President Director Tato Miraza said:
"The commencement of the jetty, belt conveyor and refining facilities of the Pomalaa Ferronickel Plant Expansion project reflects that we remain on track on the project. Inline with the estimated completion of the overall project at the end of 2015, coupled with the expectation of higher nickel prices in years ahead, we are confident the project will deliver significant returns and profitability."
ANTAM's new jetty facilities are expected to provide faster and more efficient nickel ore unloading process for use in ferronickel smelters. The jetty facilities are work package 1 from a total of 8 work packages of the P3FP. The new jetty has a capacity of 12,000 DWT with unloading rate 2x500 ton per hour, faster from previous rate which utilises backhoe loaders.
The development of the 4 kilometre-long belt conveyor facilities are aimed to replace dump trucks which are currently used to transport nickel ore and coal from the jetty to the ferronickel plant. ANTAM also aims to augment the occupational safety aspect of nickel ore and coal transportation inline with the use of the belt conveyor. The belt conveyor facilities are work package 2 from a total of 8 work packages of the P3FP.
Meanwhile, the new refining facility will add the number of ANTAM's refining facility from one facility to two facilities. Inline with the addition, ANTAM expects more flexible refining operations at the Pomalaa ferronickel plants as the plant's capacity increases. The refining facilities are work package 3 from a total of 8 work packages of the P3FP.
Inline with the completion of P3FP, ANTAM is expected to increase its annual ferronickel production at Pomalaa to 27,000-30,000 TNi from previous production levels of 18,000-20,000 TNi. The project completion will also lead to lower ferronickel cash cost, hence making ANTAM as one of the lowest cost ferronickel producers.
