State-owned mining firm PT Aneka Tambang (ANTM) may kick off construction of a ferronickel smelter later this year in East Halmahera, North Maluku, as the commodity's global prices are improving. Antam will spend between 25 percent to 30 percent of the total investment on the early stage of the smelter's development this year -- apart from the $75 million it has used to build supporting infrastructure, including a jetty, since last year” Tato said.

• [Editor:Juan]