[ferro-alloys.com]PT ANTAM Tbk (ANTAM; IDX: ANTM; ASX: ATM) is pleased to announce the Company has received the renewal recommendation permit of mineral export for low grade nickel ore (<1.7% Ni) amounted to 2.7 million wet metric ton (wmt) and washed bauxite ore with the grade of ≥ 42% Al2O3 as much of 840 thousand wmt from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR) for the period of 2018-2019. In 2017, ANTAM has obtained mineral export license of low grade nickel with total amount of 3.9 million wmt in which the export license of 2.7 million wmt was acquired in March 2017 and the rest license of 1.2 million wmt was obtained in October 2017. Meanwhile the export licenses of washed bauxite export were granted in March 2017.  

Based on the MEMR decree No. 5 Year 2017 on Enhancement of Minerals’ Added Value through Domestic Mineral Processing & Refining Activity, ANTAM was categorized as the holder of Mining Business License (IUP) for Nickel and Bauxite Operation Production which already has been owned and operated the domestic mineral processing and refinery facilities as well as conducted smelter development project. Under the regulation ANTAM was allowed to export low grade nickel ore and washed bauxite ore for 5 (five) year period which renew the export permits for every year.

ANTAM’s President Director, Arie Prabowo Ariotedjo said:

“ANTAM’s nickel and bauxite ore export will boost our mineral downstream initiative which began in 1974 following the operations of the FeNi I ferronickel plant. We currently have a diverse mineral processing facilities for nickel, gold, silver and bauxite. For more than 4 decades, ANTAM is committed in mineral downstream industry in line with the Government’s mineral downstream policy .”

In 2017, ANTAM recorded total low grade nickel ore export of 2.73 million wmt and washed bauxite ore export of 766 thousand wmt. In 2017, the total amount of ANTAM’s contribution to the Government of Indonesia from the payment of Tax duty as well as Non-Tax State Revenue (PNPB) amounted to Rp735 billion.    

In line with the Company's development strategy, ANTAM has solid commitment in relation to mineral downstream activity. The construction of ANTAM's strategic project: East Halmahera Ferronickel Plant Development Project (P3FH), remained on the track with construction progress reached 38% at the end of 2017. P3FH will have annual ferronickel production capacity of 13,500 TNi whereby construction is estimated to be completed by the end of 2018. For bauxite, ANTAM is currently focusing on the development of Smelter Grade Alumina Refinery (SGAR) plant in Mempawah, West Kalimantan with PT INALUM (Persero) with an estimated total production capacity of up to 1 million ton SGA per annum (Stage 1).  

• [Editor:王可]