HALMAHERA. The construction project of Ferronickel East Halmahera (FeNi Haltim) for US$ 1, 4 billion is started. Coordinating Minister of Economy RI, Hatta Rajasa together with President Director ANTAM, Alwinsyah Lubis officially did ground breaking ceremonial in East Halmahera, North Maluku Tuesday (30/11/2011). The inauguration of FeNi Haltim project was also attended by North Maluku Governor and East Halmahera Regent who support the project to be realized as soon as possible and is hoped to be able to assist economic development of local citizens in North Maluku. FeNi Haltim project is one of project of Master Plan for Acceleration and Expansion of Indonesian Economy Development (MP3EI) for Papua Economy Corridor and Maluku Islands and also is one of the recent biggest projects in East Indonesia.
“The construction of FeNi Haltim Project designates the starting of the second key project of the year, after in last April Chemical Grade Alumina (CGA) Project Tayan was started. The expansion in nickel ore processing to be ferronickel shows our competency to move to upstream industry owned an added value. FeNi Haltim Project is a strategic project of ANTAM in process to always be developing becoming mining-based global corporation by having healthy growth and world class standard,” says the President Director of PT ANTAM, Alwinsyah Lubis in his speech.
FeNi Haltim Project is a strategic project of ANTAM, which is meant to increase the added value of ANTAM nickel reserves through nickel ore processing becoming ferronickel. Next the project will be in production capacity of 27.000 ton nickel in ferronickel with operation commissioning is hoped to start by the end of 2014. Feni Haltim Project will be developed by ANTAM subsidiary, PT Feni Haltim (FHT) which all the share both direct and indirect are owned by ANTAM.
Meanwhile, Public Relation of PT ANTAM, Resna Handayani stated that the estimated value of FeNi Haltim Project is US$ 1, 6 billion, including US$ 600 million is for the construction of power plant in capacity 275 MW, which will be developed by PT PLN (Persero). In early 2011, ANTAM has established synergy with PT PLN (Persero) including energy supply cooperation for 30 years for operational and infrastructure of FeNi Haltim Project. “PT PLN (Persero) plans to finance, construct, and operate the power plant for FeNi Haltim project needs,” she says.
To assist the funding of FeNi Haltim Project and other ANTAM developing projects, ANTAM has appointed financial arranger consortium, which consists of Bank Mandiri, Bank Rakyat Indonesia, Mandiri Sekuritas, Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Ltd. and Standard Chartered Bank. The consortiums will support FeNi Haltim project in achieving funding by using optimal skim for an amount up to US$ 1 billion, as stated by Resna. (AK)
