Several nickel smelters are put into operation, it is estimated that the demand for nickel ore in Indonesia will reach 100 million tons in 2022, an increase of 20-30% over the same period last year.

Published: Feb 14, 2022 10:38

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Meidy Katrin Lengkey, secretary general of the Indonesian Nickel Minerals Association, said that at least four nickel smelters will operate in 2022 and the demand for nickel ore will increase. [several nickel smelters are expected to start production in 2022. Demand for nickel ore in Indonesia is expected to reach 100 million tons in 2022 compared with the same period last year. One of them is the PT Gunbuster Nickel Industry (GNI) nickel smelter in the Morosi industrial zone in Konawe, south-east Sulawesi.

Meidy Katrin Lengkey, secretary-general of the Indonesian Nickel Minerals Association (APNI), said that at least four nickel smelters will operate in 2022 and demand for nickel mines will increase. One of them is the PT Gunbuster Nickel Industry (GNI) nickel smelter in the Morosi industrial zone in Konawe, south-east Sulawesi. The company was approved by President Jokowi in December 2021 and first exported in January 2022.

APNI expects Indonesia's demand for nickel ore to reach 100m tonnes in 2022, an increase of 20-30 per cent compared with 2021. The construction of cathode precursor plants also supported the growth of demand for nickel ore.

President Jokowi also opened an electric car battery factory in West Java in September 2021. The existence of these downstream industries also provides new support for nickel demand.

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