Mandiodo Mine Operations Temporarily Stopped, Antam Pede Target Achieved

Nickel illustration (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - PT Antam (ANTAM) Corporate Secretary Syarif Faisal Alkadrie opened his voice about mining activities in the Mandiodo Block which were temporarily suspended. This is the result of the detention of former Director General of Mineral and Coal Ridwan Djamaluddin by the Attorney General's Office as a suspect in the alleged corruption case of nickel ore mining in the mining permit area (IUP) of PT Antam in the Mandiodo Block.

Syarif said that currently operations are only running on the Tapunopaka block.

"It can be conveyed that related to the operation of the Tapunopaka block and Mandodo block in the North Konawe Nickel Mining Business Unit, currently the operation is running on the Tapunopaka block. Meanwhile, the Mandiodo block has not yet carried out operational activities again," Syarif told VOI, Monday, August 14.

Syarif ensured that the operational cessation of the Mandodo block would not affect the company's production target this year.

"The consolidated production of ANTAM nickel ore in the first semester of 2023 is still running according to the Company's target," continued Syarif.

He detailed that in the first semester of 2023 the company recorded a nickel ore production achievement (unaudited) of 6.81 million wet metric tons (wmt). This achievement rose 55 percent when compared to the recording of nickel ore production in the same period in 2022 of 4.39 million wmt.

"As a public company and part of the BUMN holding, we are bound by various provisions and are regularly supervised by authorized government agencies or institutions, and always comply with applicable regulations in every company business line," concluded Syarif.

Just so you know, previously the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Arifin Tasrif ensured that all mining activities in the Mandiodo Block, North Konawe Regency (Konut), Southeast Sulawesi (Sultra) were temporarily suspended.

"Yes, stop it," said Arifin, who was met by the media crew at his office, Friday, August 11.

This is in line with what has been conveyed by the Special Staff of the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Irwandy Arif, all mining activities will be stopped until the legal process has been completed.

"Yes, of course (stopped) if this is done, there will be no activity if there is a problem, right?" said Irwandi briefly.

Previously, it was reported that the Attorney General's Office had named two new suspects in a case that cost the state finances of Rp. 5.7 trillion, namely Ridwan Djamaluddin, the former Director General of Mineral and Coal (Minerba) of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), and HJ, the sub-coordinator of the work plan and budget (RKAB) of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.