ANTAM Starts Groundbreaking Of Ore Preparation Line-4 Facility As Part Of The Pomalaa Ferronickel Plant Expansion Project

ANTAM’s President Director Tato Miraza, said,
"The groundbreaking of the Ore Preparation Line-4 facility reflects the continuance of our growth strategy. Following the commissioning of ANTAM’s Tayan Chemical Grade Alumina plant on October 28, 2013, we are currently focusing on the development of the Pomalaa Ferronickel Plant Expansion project. Through the project, we are not only expanding our ferronickel production capacity, in addition, we are lowering our operating cash cost through the development of the Pomalaa coal fired power plant."

ANTAM’s Ore Preparation Line-4 facility will include the development of 260 tons per hour rotary dryer and the 90 tons per hour rotary kiln. These facilities will serve as the nickel ore preparation and nickel calcination facilities for Electric Smelting Furnace number 4 and Electric Smelting Furnace number 2.

The Ore Preparation Line-4 is built by a consortium of Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. and PT Wijaya Karya (Persero) Tbk. Construction of the Ore Preparation Line-4 is estimated to take 27 months with a project cost of US$102 million.

Inline with development of ESF-4 and Ore Preparation Line-4, ANTAM is expected to increase its annual ferronickel production at Pomalaa to 25,000-27,000 TNi from previous production levels of 18,000-20,000 TNi with the assumption of 1.9% Ni ore feed.