Chinese Nickel Companies Going Out to Indonesia Prefer Blast Furnaces

SHANGHAI, Apr. 29 (SMM) – Chinese companies planning to run nickel plants in Indonesia, such as Ningbo Brillimetal Mineral Co., are inclined to build blast furnaces due to poor infrastructure in the Southeast Asian country, Shanghai Metals Market foresees. 

 

Blast furnace has a short construction cycle of half a year and uses little power, compared to rotary kiln electric furnace (RKEF) which is setting the trend in China, according to SMM’s research team.

 

In addition to China’s Ningbo Brillimetal Mineral Co., which joined PT Macika Mineral Industri (MMI) in building its first ferronickel plant this month in Sulawesi, Energy Resources Co., and Ningbo Shanshan Resources Co. are also considering going outside to build plants, SMM has learnt.  

 

Besides, eight Chinese companies were planning to invest $2.4 billion to construct a nickel smelter in Bantaeng in Sulawesi Selatan, local news reported. Shenwu Group, Huadi Steel Group, and Macrolink Group, three of the eight companies, were said to put its investment in place within this year.