We will also open a representative office in Shanghai, China, this month."
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - State-owned mining firm PT Antam is taking steps to anticipate the decline in its income after the government banned the export of mineral ores beginning January 12, 2014.

Antam President Director Tato Miraza, stated in a press release that was made available to ANTARA News, here on Thursday that his company had set a target of increasing the volume of its gold sales to 13.6 tons in 2014, up by 66 percent from the target in 2013 amounting to 8.2 tons.

The government began banning the export of raw minerals as of January 12 this year after Law No. 4/2009 on Mineral and Coal Mining took effect.

"We are planning to increase the sales volumes of our ferronickel to 20 thousand tons of nickel in 2014, or up by 11 percent from that in the previous year which stood at 18 thousand tons of nickel," he pointed out.

Antam is also planning to operate a chemical grade alumina (CGA) factory commercially, in Tayan, West Kalimantan. It is expected to begin at the end of the first semester of this year.

In an effort to increase gold sales, the company plans to open 5-10 gold boutiques in 2014 following the already existing five in Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, Makassar and Palembang, he explained.

"To market our ferronickel and other commodities, we will also open a representative office in Shanghai, China, this month," remarked Tato Mirza.

Besides, Antam will also increase its coal trade activities, launch efficiency drives and accelerate the construction and expansion of its ferronickel factory in Pomalaa, South Sulawesi.

"As part of our efforts to maintain the cash flow of the company, capital expenditure this year is set at Rp2.878 trillion, down from that in 2013," he explained.

Earlier, PT Antam had expressed hope that the government will still allow it to export nickel ores until 2017.

But after the Government Regulation No. 1 /2014, which bans the exportation of mineral ores, Antam fully supported the policy.
(Uu.A014/INE/KR-BSR/H-YH)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2014