In theory, Indonesia only allowed exports of ore grading below 1.7% Ni. Current developments in Indonesia, by the likes of QMB and Huayou, to construct leaching plants to process limonite ore grading below this level mean that the ‘low grade’ ores can now be processed domestically. Secondly, it is understood that the government wishes to take steps to preserve its nickel resource base to ensure longevity for the existing and future domestic smelter developments. (For reference, the last nickel reserve and resource data provided by the ESDM was in 2014. Total nickel metal resources at that time were stated as 54.54 million t in 3711.6 million t of ore. The statement from the ESDM on 2 September suggests current known resources to be 2800 million t – which pro-rates to 41.1 million t of nickel contained).
Stephanie Roker
Editor
Stephanie joined Palladian Publications in 2015 and is now the Editor of World Coal, Dry Bulk and Global Mining magazine. She has enjoyed learning about the industry and hopes to develop this understanding more, for many years to come.
Stephanie spent most of her life living in Norway, where she attended an international school, before returning to England for university. She graduated from the University of Winchester in 2015, with a BA (Hons) in English Literature.
Her pastimes include reading, travelling, cooking and annoying her cat.
