Smelter Development Misses 2023 Target

The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) reports that the construction of mineral refining facilities or smelters reached 5 units in 2023.

This figure falls short of the target of 7 units set for 2023.

The number of smelters built in 2023 is the same as in 2020-2022. Previously, the government only managed to build 3-4 smelters, as shown in the graph.

The government aims to build 53 smelters by 2024. This plan was set in 2021.

The Ministry of ESDM provides the following update on integrated mining smelter projects in 2023:

1. (100%) PT Aneka Tambang in Pomalaa, Kolaka, Southeast Sulawesi has been built and has been in production since 1976 and 2007 (expansion).
2. (100%) PT Vale Indonesia in South Sulawesi, a Work Contract holder producing nickel matte, has been built and operational since 1978 and 2011 (expansion).
3. (100%) PT Wanatiara Persada in North Maluku has been built and operational, producing ferronickel since 2019.
4. (100%) PT Fajar Bhakti Lintas Nusantara, a nickel pig iron (NPI) smelter in North Maluku, has been built since 2015 but is currently not operating due to high production costs (coke raw material costs).
5. (100%) PT Weda Bay Nickel in North Maluku has been built and operational since 2020.
6. (99.9%) PT ANTAM (P3FH project) in North Maluku; a power plant construction tender is currently underway.
7. (90.24%) PT Sebuku Iron Lateritic Ores in South Kalimantan, an iron smelter producing sponge ferro alloy.

(Also read: Government Aims to Build 53 Smelters in 2024, Here's the Breakdown)