JAKARTA (Yosefardi) – State miner PT Aneka Tambang (Antam) Tbk (ANTM) has launched a groundbreaking of the ore preparation line-4 facility, part of the Pomalaa ferronickel plant expansion project, in Southeast Sulawesi.

Antam had on October 28, 2013 commissioned its Tayan chemical grade alumina plant, then now it focuses on the development of the Pomalaa project.

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 klin.

The ore preparation line-4 is built by a consortium of Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. and PT Wijaya Karya Tbk (WIKA). The construction is estimated to take 27 months with a project cost of US$102 million.

Inline with the 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 levels of 18,000-20,000 TNi with the assumption of 1.9% Ni ore feed.