- Business
- PT Vale Indonesia Tbk (INCO.JK) is an integrated nickel mining and processing company primarily engaged in the exploration, mining, and production of nickel from lateritic ores at its facilities in the Sorowako Block, South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. The company utilizes pyrometallurgical and smelting technologies to process laterite nickel ore into nickel matte, an intermediate product for stainless steel and battery applications; it also sells nickel ore, including saprolite and limonite varieties, to domestic and international markets. Operations span concession areas totaling 118,017 hectares across South Sulawesi (70,566 hectares), Central Sulawesi (22,699 hectares), and Southeast Sulawesi (24,752 hectares), powered by renewable hydroelectric energy to support low-carbon production targets, such as 70,800 metric tons of nickel matte in 2024.
Founded in 1968 and headquartered in Jakarta, Indonesia, PT Vale Indonesia Tbk operates under a Special Mining Business License (IUPK) valid until December 28, 2035, serving global markets in the stainless steel and electric vehicle battery supply chains. The company is a subsidiary of Brazil-based Vale S.A., with major shareholders including Indonesia's state-owned MIND ID (34% stake following a 2024 acquisition of additional 14% from partners), Vale Canada Ltd. (33.9%), and Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. Ltd. (11.5%), alongside public float on the Indonesia Stock Exchange.
In recent developments, PT Vale Indonesia Tbk has advanced its Indonesia Growth Project (IGP), encompassing high-pressure acid leach (HPAL) facilities for battery-grade nickel in Pomalaa (USD 4.5 billion joint venture with Ford and Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt), Morowali (USD 2.0 billion with GEM Co. Ltd., entering operational phase in April 2025 with mining and saprolite ore sales commencing mid-2025), and Sorowako Limonite (USD 2.3 billion with Huayou). The company fulfilled an initial 200,000 metric ton nickel ore sales quota from the Pomalaa Block in late 2024 and plans USD 1.0-1.2 billion in financing through 2026-2027, including USD 500 million in bank loans in early 2026, to fund these mine expansions and HPAL smelters. These initiatives align with Indonesia's downstream industrialization policy, targeting over 12,000 jobs by end-2025 and positioning the company as a key supplier in the global energy transition.