Antam aims to produce up to 100,000 tonnes of nickel sulfate per year by 2024

The Indonesian government is aiming for state-owned PT Aneka Tambang Tbk to produce 50,000 tonnes to 100,000 tonnes of nickel sulfate per year when its high-pressure acid leach plant begins operations by 2024, Reuters reported Feb. 1, quoting an official.

"Nickel sulfate ... precursors and cathodes ... will be used primarily for the needs of domestic and export industries," said Agus Tjahajana, head of Indonesia’s EV battery project acceleration team.

Agus noted that production of precursors and cathodes for batteries amounting to between 120,000 tonnes and 240,000 tonnes per year is also slated for 2024. The precursors and cathodes production will be spearheaded by a joint venture of PT Pertamina and Mining Industry Indonesia.

Meanwhile, Agus said that electric vehicle manufacturers are aiming to start producing vehicles in 2022, but he did not provide details on the companies.

In June 2020, research and consultancy firm Wood Mackenzie forecast nickel sulfate production to reach a peak of 450,000 tonnes in 2027, driven by increasing demand for electric vehicles.