[ferro-alloys.com]Yesterday, Indonesia ANTAM president Arie Prabowo Ariotedjo said that after establishing GAP nickel ore smelting plant in Papua Province, ANTAM would add a new smelting plant in Sorong or East Halmahera Economic zone.

Arie said:”We will search for cooperative partner to establish the plant. The bidding invitation may be held in this month. Three Chinese enterprise and a Philippine enterprise are eager to become the cooperative partners. The total investment may be 1 billion dollors, and the annual production capability will be 40 or 50 tons.”

He said that ANTAM would still be the largest shareholder, but he didn’t want to reveal the situation of the shares of mutual fund. He only mentioned that ANTAM would solve the problem of land concession of Gap island.

Arie added that the total reserve nickel ore volume was 391 million tons. The target of nickle output should be 900 thousand tons by ANTAM this year. Only refined nickel ore could be exported.

• [Editor:王可]