Nickel Industries Limited (ASX: NIC) has received approval to lift the 2025 nickel ore sales quota for its Hengjaya Mine, clearing the way for immediate resumption of deliveries into the Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP).
Under the revised Rencana Kerja dan Anggaran Biaya (RKAB), the company’s permitted 2025 sales increase from 9 million wet metric tonnes to 10.5 million wmt for the balance of the year. Ore dispatch has restarted via both haul road and barging.
The quota increase follows approval of the mine’s Analisis Mengenai Dampak Lingkungan (AMDAL) by Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment. While the RKAB is renewed annually, the AMDAL will apply for a 5-year period and is not expected to require modification during that time.
Nickel Industries said the AMDAL also underpins its growth plans for 2026, with the company expecting final approval of its 2026 RKAB shortly and targeting annual sales of 19 million wmt.
The newly approved AMDAL incorporates Indonesia’s first authorised in-pit tailings storage system. The design includes a dedicated pipeline linking the Excelsior Nickel Cobalt (ENC) HPAL project to Hengjaya for the return of tailings, which will be dry-stacked prior to pit recontouring and rehabilitation.
Lowering operating costs and emissions
The approval further allows limonite ore to be transported to ENC via slurry pipeline, a shift the company expects will lower both operating costs and emissions relative to conventional haulage.
Nickel Industries managing director Justin Werner said the approvals were an important step in advancing the company’s production plans.
“We are pleased to announce the approval of an increase to our 2025 RKAB, allowing mine sales to recommence immediately,” he said.
“The AMDAL supporting the 2025 RKAB is not only essential for this year’s operations but lays the foundation for a further RKAB increase in 2026. The AMDAL approval is the first of its kind to permit the use of a pipeline to return HPAL tailings to the mine for storage, re-contouring and revegetation.
“This innovation will significantly contribute to our goal of positioning ENC as the lowest carbon and cost intensive HPAL globally, producing diversified class 1 and intermediary nickel products.
“We thank all of the Ministry of Environment staff who worked closely with the Hengjaya Mine technical team to ensure a detailed and comprehensive AMDAL was delivered,” Mr Werner said.