Eramet Indonesia Targets 42 Million Tons of Nickel Production by End of 2025
Mon 25 Aug 2025, 02:10 AM
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Eramet Indonesia is targeting nickel ore production of 42 million tons by 2025, after receiving an additional quota from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM). The same target is projected for next year.
Eramet Indonesia CEO Jérôme Baudelet said the company initially only received a production permit for 32 million tons. However, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) granted an additional quota extension of 10 million tons, increasing this year's total production target to 42 million tons.
"Initially, our RKAB was 32 million tons, but recently we received an extension from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources for another 10 million tons. So, this year's production estimate is around 42 million tons," Jérôme told reporters after the Eramet Journalist Class: Understanding the Indonesian Nickel Industry – Current Perspectives and Sustainable Practices, Monday (25/8/2025).
He said production in 2026 is expected to remain at the same level at around 42 million tonnes.
Jérôme revealed that nickel reserves at the Weda Bay mine are still large enough to support mining activities for more than two decades. However, plans to increase production capacity to 60 million tons per year are still awaiting government approval.
Development of Collaboration with Danantara
The composition of Eramet Indonesia's production within the target includes 30 million tons of saprolite, most of which is supplied to Morowali Industrial Park (MPI), around 3 million tons for the internal needs of the Eramet factory, and 12 million tons of limonite allocated to support the needs of the High Pressure Acid Leach (H-PAL) industry in Weda Bay.
Eramet Indonesia CEO Reveals Developments in Collaboration with Danantara
Previously, Eramet Indonesia stated that collaboration with BPI Danantara and the Indonesia Investment Authority (INA) in building an ecosystem for raw materials for electric vehicle (EV) batteries is still ongoing.
Eramet Indonesia CEO Jerome Baudelet said he could not yet elaborate on the details of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) as it was still under discussion.
Nevertheless, Jerome confirmed that Eramet would continue discussions regarding several potential projects with national investment institutions. PT Weda Bay Nickel (WBN) is also involved in this process.
Still in the Early Stages of Discussion
"We are in discussions with Danantara and INA to collaborate. Weda Bay Nickel is clearly involved in these discussions," Jerome said at the Eramet Journalist Class event: Understanding the Indonesian Nickel Industry – Current Perspectives and Sustainable Practices, Monday (August 25, 2025).
Jerome explained that because the MoU is still in its early stages, he cannot yet divulge further details regarding the plans being developed. He also added that some information cannot be made public yet, as discussions are still ongoing.
"This is still an early stage of discussions. Obviously, there's a degree of confidentiality involved, but at least the talks are progressing. INA and Danantara are excellent partners," he concluded.
Eramet: Indonesia Will Be the World's Largest Nickel Producer in 10 Years
Previously, Eramet Indonesia, part of Eramet, a French multinational mining and metallurgical company, believed that Indonesia would become the world's largest nickel producer. This was based on Indonesia's current reserves.
Eramet Indonesia CEO Jérôme Baudelet explained that Indonesia will become the world's largest nickel producer within the next ten years. This view follows a significant increase in production over the past three to five years.
By 2023, Indonesia will supply 55 percent of the world's total nickel production, increasing global dependence on Indonesia's nickel supply.
"We strongly believe that Indonesia will continue to be a global nickel production hub over the next 10 years. Indonesia will account for 70 percent of global nickel production during that period," said Jérôme, as quoted on Thursday (November 7, 2024).
Jérôme also revealed that production at Weda Bay Nickel, Eramet's joint venture with Tsingshan, is also showing rapid growth. By 2024, Weda Bay Nickel's nickel production will reach 32 million tons, in line with the production quota set in the Work Plan and Budget (RKAB).
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