JAKARTA. The Indonesian Nickel Mining Association (APNI) was not convinced that domestic nickel production could be absorbed by domestic smelters.
Meidy Katrin Lengkey, Secretary-General of APNI, said this in a hearing with the Commission VI of the House of Representatives on Wednesday (13/11). "The meeting with BKPM, in which it was said that we agreed, actually we were only saying "yes, yes" like that," Lengkey said as quoted by Kontan on Thursday (14/11) today.
For information, APNI met with the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) on Tuesday this week, together with the Indonesian Mineral Processing and Purification Association (AP3I). Bahlil Lahadalia, Head of BKPM, admitted that this meeting had resulted in an agreement made with nickel entrepreneurs. This meeting also resulted in an agreement regarding the selling price of nickel ore in the domestic market, which was set at US$ 30 per metric ton for grades below 1.7%.
"We doubt they (smelters) are able to absorb because as long as the smelters are there, they have never absorbed nickel ore with grades below 1.8%," explained Lengkey. (KR/AR)