Antam to team up with Russian firm

PT Aneka Tambang (Antam), the country's second largest nickel producer, is looking into the possibility of teaming up with Russian mining company United Company Rusal to build an aluminum smelter in Tayan, West Kalimantan, an official says. The director general of Geology and Mineral Resources Simon Sembiring said Saturday that Antam had reported the initiative to the ministry, but declined to elaborate on the plan. The plant, which will have an installed capacity to smelter 300,000 tons per year, will cost around US$220 million to build. It was reported previously that a consortium involving Japanese company Marubeni and a Singaporean company Swadenco had been formed in February to provide financial support for the Tayan project. The plant is expected to be in operation by 2010.