Nickel mining in Indonesia

A Canadian geologist from Inco further prospected the existing deposits and in 1934 exploration efforts from a Dutch mining firm began.

After the independence of Indonesia, the American Freeport Sulphur Company attempted to establish operations, but failed due to security concerns.

[2] In January 2014, the Indonesian government announced a ban on the export of a range of mineral ores, including nickel, in an attempt to develop local smelter industries.

It was criticized by a representative of the Processing and Smelting Companies Association (AP3I) for limiting the ability to adjust for fluctuations in price.

[7] In June 2020, 20% of Vale Indonesia was acquired by Mind Id, a state-owned mining holding company, for $390 million.

[11] Nickel production in Indonesia is primarily conducted by Vale's PT Vale Indonesia and Aneka Tambang,[12] whose combined employment was 5,820 people in 2017, not accounting for jobs related to processing and in metallurgical industries such as the 43,000 employees at Morowali Industrial Park.

[20] The most important Indonesian nickel ores are lateritic,[21] primarily located in Sulawesi and Halmahera with mining operations centered at ultramafic rock outcrops.