Antam reactivates Maniang Island nickel mine

State owned mining company Aneka Tambang Tbk (Antam) through its unit PT Antam UBPN Pomalaa, Kolaka, Southeast Sulawesi, stated that it is reactivating the nickel mining in Maniang Island after stopping it in 2009, then due to unsuitable nickel ore content for the world market demand.

Teddy Badrujaman, SVP of PT Antam Kolaka, reiterated that Maniang Island is a concession with historical value for Antam since it has been mining that concession since 1959. According to Teddy the reopening of Maniang concession is for the third time after being halted several times in the past and recently since 2009, Teddy said, adding that the mining in Maniang Island is one of Antam's initial mining development endeavours.

"The Maniang Island will be a comprehensive mining, there is a plan to build a historical monument and to develop it into a mine tourism resort after the mining activities ended," said Teddy.

Teddy revealed that in the early days of the mining, the nickel ore content from more than 100 acre of the concession was up to 3 UP. However, after exporting it for several times, the ore content was decreased to 1.8 UP, resulting in the halting of the mining operation since it became uneconomical.

Antam has since developed a processing plant that can be fed with such low-nickel-content ore thus making reopening of the Maniang island mine feasible. (*)