JAKARTA - PT Vale Indonesia Tbk (PT Vale) recorded the initial sale of nickel ore from the Indonesia Growth Project (IGP) Pomalaa.
This achievement marks an important phase in the project's transition from the construction phase to the revenue-generating phase, while strengthening Indonesia's position in the global supply chain of critical minerals.
Director and Chief Project Officer of PT Vale Indonesia Tbk, Muhammad Asril said, this initial sale is a strategic step in the process of de-risking projects, validating the readiness of the production system, and strengthening the Company's long-term growth fundamentals.
"Nickel is a key component in lithium-ion batteries, especially for high-nickel-rate cathodes used in electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage systems. As global electrification accelerates and the energy transition, demand for nickel is projected to continue to increase in the coming decade," he said in a statement to the media, Monday, March 2.
He added, with an integrated investment value of around IDR 74.44 trillion or approximately US$ 4.43 billion, IGP Pomalaa is one of the strategic projects that strengthens the foundation of the national nickel industry while increasing Indonesia's competitiveness in the global market.
This initial sale, he said, was made possible through the activation of the oresell area in Pit PB5 and Pit PB1, which was designed to optimize material flow and maintain production stability.
Both pits have a storage capacity of up to 4 million wet metric tons (Mwmt) of limonite ore, providing significant inventory flexibility and ensuring the sustainability of supplies to the processing facility in Pomalaa.
"The inauguration of the oresell area in Pit PB5 and PB1 is a strategic step to maintain the rhythm of production and ensure the optimal distribution of materials. With the support of infrastructure that we continue to accelerate, we ensure that the achievement of the Pomalaa IGP target remains in line with the principles of operational excellence and sustainable mining practices," continued Muhammad.
Entering March 2026, IGP Pomalaa targets a production of 300,000 tons of limonite per month, or about 9,677 tons per day. This ramp-up strategy is carried out in a disciplined manner to ensure operational sustainability and optimization of production capacity.
With a storage capacity of 4 Mwmt and a monthly production target, this project has an adequate inventory buffer to maintain supply consistency while reducing the risk of operational disruptions.
Progress of Infrastructure and Capital Efficiency The acceleration of infrastructure development is a priority to maintain efficiency and capital discipline. As of January 2026, the overall construction progress of the Pomalaa IGP has reached 65.76 percent, indicating on-track project execution.
Meanwhile, the construction of the Main Haul Road (MHR) to stockpile has reached 40 percent. This line is the backbone of the distribution of materials from the mine area to the processing facility and port, which will ultimately increase hauling productivity and reduce the potential for logistics bottlenecks.
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)
