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KONTAN.CO.ID – JAKARTA. The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) said that currently 90% of nickel smelters in Indonesia use pyrometallurgical technology or the Klin Rotary Electric Furnace (RKEF) which comes from China. The popular use of this technology is due to the fact that the investment is relatively cheaper than that of hydrometallurgical foundries. Special Staff for Accelerating Minerals and Coal Governance at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Irwandy Arif, explained that almost 100% of nickel downstream in Indonesia currently uses RKEF technology which will produce nickel pig iron (NPI) and ferronickel. “Well, 90% of those who come into smelters come from China because it’s a cheap investment. “The mining sector is definitely looking for something cheap,” he explained during of a meeting at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources building, Friday (18/8). Meanwhile, several companies do not use Chinese technology, namely PT Vale Indonesia Tbk (INCO) who built his nickel smelter with technology from Canada. Read also: Refinery construction still stalled, bauxite ore production may decline this year According to ESDM records, there are currently 33 smelters with pyrometallurgical technology operating and producing up to 115.45 million metric tons of NPI. As many as 37 smelters, which will produce 90.88 million tonnes, are currently under construction and 27 smelters are expected to be built. However, continued Irwandy, in the future there will be other partners, apart from China, who will help encourage nickel downstream in Indonesia. Especially when the RKEF foundry is limited, the downstream process in the country will go further until it can produce batteries. Currently, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources is concerned about the increasingly massive rate of saprolite ore consumption due to the proliferation of RKEF smelters in Indonesia. This is why the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources launched an appeal to economic actors regarding restrictions on the construction of RKEF smelters. “This call is due to the fact that the consumption of saprolite ore is extraordinary, this is what we must pay attention to. “But I think that what has been approved will continue (the development), especially within the framework of the National Strategic Program (PSN)”, he explained. Check out other news and articles on Google News Editor: Anna Suci Perwitasari