PT Ceria Nugraha Indotama (CNI) in Indonesia has signed a contract with PT Wijaya Karya to build a nickel ore processing and refining plant using rotary kiln electric furnaces (RKEFs), Kallanish notes.

Wijaya plans to take 36 months to build the plant in Kolaka Regency in Southeast Sulawesi, which will have two RKEFs costing a combined $360 million. After completion, it will have the ability to annually refine nickel ore with a grade of 1.59% and produce 27,800 tonnes/year of ferronickel with 22% nickel content.

"God willing, this project can be completed on time with satisfactory quality and can be a tipping point for the revival of the mineral-based industry in the country and the world,” says Wijaya president director Agung Budi Waskito.

The second phase of the project includes output of nickel hydroxide.

China's An Shun Coal Mines Company, wholly owned by Tsingdao Hengshun Electricity Company, holds 51% of CNI.