By Dominikus
PT Sulawesi Nickel Cobalt (SLNC), a joint venture between Huayou Indonesia and PT Merdeka Battery Materials Tbk, has officially installed the first high-pressure autoclave as part of its ongoing high-pressure acid leach (HPAL) project in Morowali, Central Sulawesi.
Located within the Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP), the SLNC HPAL facility is strategically positioned adjacent to the existing 90,000-ton-per-year HPAL plant operated by PT Huayue Nickel Cobalt (HNC), a Huayou-led joint venture. The SLNC project aims to reinforce Indonesia’s growing role as a key global supplier of critical battery materials, particularly nickel for electric vehicle (EV) batteries.
Construction of the SLNC plant began in January 2025 and is scheduled for completion in mid-2026. Backed by a total investment of US$1.8 billion, the project will process laterite nickel ore using the HPAL method, which relies heavily on sulfuric acid to extract nickel from the ore. A dedicated sulfuric acid plant is also being developed to support the leaching process and meet the increasing demand for nickel in the EV industry.
Read also: CNCEC secures contract for SLNC sulfuric acid plant
"Congratulations to PT Sulawesi Nickel Cobalt, SLNC on the ongoing construction of the HPAL project and the successful installation of the first high-pressure autoclave. May the construction and future operations proceed successfully, safely, and smoothly," Kesumaputra Wiranegara, EHS Manager of Huayou Indonesia said on Wednesday (May 14).
Meng Hanzhuo, Chief Engineer of the Southwest Branch of Sinochem Second Construction Engineering Co., Ltd., the contractor responsible for the core construction and installation works added that civil works in zones 210B, 211B, and 213B have been substantially completed, laying a solid foundation for mechanical installations.
The project has secured a US$1.4 billion syndicated loan from a consortium of regional and Indonesian banks, including PT Bank Mandiri and PT Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI), to support its construction and development phases.
Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak
