Indonesia - Investment in nickel processing and refining is expected to increase this year and in the coming years. Meidy Katrin Lengkey, secretary-general of the Indonesian Nickel Miners' Association, said the trend towards investment was increasingly attractive, with the conflict between Russia and Ukraine also driving up demand and prices for nickel ore.
'In the end, the big prizes went to Indonesia and the Philippines,' Mehdi told the media on Wednesday. Indonesia, by the way, happens to have a lot of demand for its processing plants. As future investment in smelters increases, demand for nickel ore is likely to increase.
Demand for nickel ore totaled 70 million tons last year and is expected to reach 100 million tons this year.
The ministry of Energy and Mines aims to have as many as two new integrated smelters operating this year from Aneka Tambang listed in East Hamahera in North Maluku, There is also the smelter of Sebuku Iron Lateritic Ores (SILO) Limited in Nanga Province.
In addition, five independent smelters will come online this year, and seven new smelters will come online this year if it goes ahead as planned.
