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Coal, nickel resilient as pandemic hits Indonesia’s 2020 mining output
Coal and refined nickel production reached 102 percent and 137 percent of the target, respectively.
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The pictured Pomalaa nickel smelter in Kolaka, Southeast Sulawesi, is operated by state-owned metal mining firm PT Aneka Tambang (Antam).
(Antam/Antam)
I
ndonesia’s mining production largely fell short of expectations last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, except for refined nickel and coal, which exceeded output plans.
Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry data from Jan. 15 show that copper, gold, silver and tin production only reached between 75 percent and 98 percent of their respective targets. Meanwhile, coal and refined nickel production reached 102 percent and 137 percent, respectively.
“This pandemic has reduced the mining industry’s performance by roughly 20 percent, as supply chains were disrupted. Suppliers needed to deal with quarantines, rapid test requirement and so on,” Indonesian Mining Association (IMA) executive director Djoko Widajanto told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
Many regional administrations introduced such mandatory health protocols starting in April last year in an effort to contain the COVID-19 pandemic that has, as of Monday, claimed the lives of more than 26,200 people in Indonesia.
Djoko went on to say that coal and nickel mining industries were generally bigger than those of other metals and thus had more resources to raise production. Bigger industries were also guided by ministry-approved work and budget plans (RKAB).
