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Japanese Sumitomo plans to expand nickel supplies
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Reportedly, Japan's nickel producer Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. (Sumitomo) is planning to increase nickel supplies from New Caledonia, the Philippines and the Solomon Islands to make up for a potential supply shortage from an export ban on unprocessed minerals including copper, gold, silver, nickel, tin, bauxite and zinc in 2014 by the Indonesian Energy Ministry.
The Indonesian government believes that the act will improve domestic metal production capacity, boost supplies of refined products to the domestic market and increase government revenue.
Sumitomo has expected the impact from the new rule as Japan is relying on Indonesia for more than 50% of its nickel supply.
According to Nobu Kemori, the President of Sumitomo, the firm's 63%-owned Taganito nickel project in the Philippines will begin operation in July or August 2013, with output expected to reach at least 27,000 tons or 90% of capacity in 2014.
News Date
3/28/2012 4:45:53 PM
reported by
Ren Jhuang
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