P.T. Inco (Indonesia) Plant Expansion

CIM Bulletin, Vol. 83, No. 933, 1990

M.C. Bell and W.P. Clement, Inco Limited

PT International Nickel Indonesia, a subsidiary of Inco Limited, mines and processes nickel laterite ores for the supply of nickel matte, primarily to the Japanese market. It has large ore reserves and a substantial portion of its energy requirement is supplied from its own hydro-electric plant. Since the early 1980s, the company has increased its production level and has dramatically reduced its unit costs. Projects are in progress to further decrease costs and recently a major expansion — 31% increase in nominal capacity — has been undertaken, consistent with marketing opportunity in Japan. The expansion project, which has alow capital cost per unit of production, is outlined in this paper.

Keywords: Inco Limited, Indonesia, Smelting operations, Mineral economics, Plant production, Expansion projects, Nickel laterite, Plant design