Responding To The News Of Nickel Production Cuts, APNI: Can Chaos

Nickel (Photo: dock. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Nickel Miners Association (APNI) has opened its voice regarding the discourse of cutting nickel ore production this year.

APNI General Secretary Meidy Katrin Lengkey said, until now, nickel mining Work Plans and Budget (RKAB) had reached 298 million tons. Thus, many companies have obtained nickel ore mining permits.

Moreover, in the policy, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has issued a mechanism for RKAB approval for the production operation stage, which has been given for a period of 3 years.

"The problem is, we miners are somewhat benefited because the approval of RKAB for 3 years has been approved since 2024. This means that all Indonesian miners since 2024 have submitted RKAB per 3 years. It is impossible to withdraw it, right? It has been approved. It could be chaos," Meidy said in the Mining Zone, Tuesday, January 21.

Moreover, he said, the RKAB figure that has been published in 2025 has almost reached 300 million. For this reason, he assessed that it is impossible to cut it considering that many nickel companies have started producing nickel ore.

"Approval sudah dapat. Sudah berjalan (produksinya). Apakah ya mau ditarik kembali? kan tidak Mungin. Perusahaan akan ada penolakan," sambung Meidy.

In fact, he said, the company has the option to revise the RKAB target if nickel ore production has reached the set target. He gave an example, if the company's uatu gets an RKAB permit to produce 10 million tons by 2025, while as long as the production process does not have problems from the weather side and the target is achieved in August, the company can submit a revision.

"There are already rules. And until now the rules have not been changed. Unless there are replacement rules," he said.

Previously, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia said that his party was currently reviewing the total domestic nickel needs.

By evaluating this need, he said, the government can determine exactly how much RKAB for nickel commodities will be approved.

"I and the Director General of Mineral and Coal and a team from the ministry are still reviewing the total need for nickel. From the total need for nickel Then we can see how much the RKAB is," said Bahlil, quoted on Monday, January 6.

Bahlil added that this study was carried out so that the balance between production and industrial needs could be maintained so that nickel prices were stable.

With excessive nickel production, he said, it could disrupt nickel prices in the international market.

"Don't let the RKAB be given more, but the absorption in the industry is not appropriate," continued Bahlil.