Harita Nickel, developed a nickelsmelter on Obi Island, South Halmahera, North Maluku. The company invests up to USD 1 billion or more than RP 15 trillion.

Harita Nickel Head of HSE & Sustainability Tonny Gultom admitted that nickel is currently being targeted. This is in line with the intensive production of electric vehicles or cars.

Understandably, nickel is one of the main raw materials for producing battery raw materials. "The future of the nickel industry going forward is very bright. Kit is fortunate to have the potential of nickel natural resources," he said during a media gathering in Bogor, Saturday (5/11/2022).

Before the electric vehicle boom, he explained that nearly 70 percent of nickel was the raw material forstainless steel products, then 16 percent of batteries.

Going forward, this composition is predicted to change. Where, 40 percent will supply the raw material needs of electric vehicle batteries and the rest for stainless steel.

Long before the era of electric cars, Harita was a pioneer in producing mixed hydroxide precipitate (MHP). For your information, MHP is one of the raw materials for batteries which, among others, are used for electric vehicles.

"We have not planned to develop a battery-producing industry development business because it is not easy," said Tony.

Harita Nickel currently has five subsidiaries, each company engaged in Nickel mining.

The five companies are PT Trimegah Bangun Persada (TBP) and PT Gane Permai Sentosa (GPS). The other three are engaged in the downstream sector, namely PT Halmahera Jaya Ferronicel (HJF), PT Halmahera Persada Lygend (HPL), and PT Megah Surya Pertiwi (MSP).

Image source: Harita Nickel

Source: www.liputan6.com