Minister Of Industry Appreciates The Construction Of The First Titanium Smelter In Indonesia Worth IDR 1.3 Trillion

Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita (Photo: dock. Ministry of Industry)

Minister of Industry (Menperin) Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita appreciated PT Bersahaba Berkat Sahabat Jaya for realizing its investment for the construction of the oilmetry processing or refining (smelter) industry into titanium slag products in Bangka Belitung.

"This company is the first titanium smelter in Indonesia and its development progress has reached 75 percent," said Minister of Industry Agus in a written statement received by VOI, Thursday, December 7.

Minister of Industry Agus said that the presence of titanium smelters with Ilmene raw materials would certainly increase the added value of mineral ore and create jobs in the downstream industrial sector, especially in the industrial sector that utilizes titanium.

"With the construction of these smelters, Indonesia can increase added value in this industry, reduce dependence on imports and increase added value in the industrial supply chain," he said.

Meanwhile, President Director of PT Bersahaba Berkat Sahabat Jaya Arbi Leo expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Industry for their support for the titanium smelter project.

He emphasized that his party continues to innovate in line with the government's mandate which aims to eliminate every mineral potential in each region.

"We expect this smelter as a step forward in increasing the industrial sector and the country's independence in producing titanium. Therefore, support for PT Bersahabaja can participate in advancing the region and also Indonesia," he said.

The titanium smelter was built in Bangka Regency, Bangka Belitung Islands, with an investment of IDR 1.3 trillion. The smelter has a production capacity of 100 metric tons per day, and will play a role in meeting the needs of titanium in the country and globally.

Ilmene is one of the sources of titanium (Ti) elements needed to make a variety of high-performance alloys. Ilmene is formed as the main mineral in mafik frozen rock, concentrated in a layer and found as waste from lead mining or zirconium sand mining.

In addition, most of the impetene around the world are also used to produce titanium dioxide (Ti02), pigment, white lime, and abrasive polyshing.