Indonesia is a significant player in the global alumina and aluminum industry, primarily due to its abundant bauxite reserves. Here’s an overview of alumina refineries and related activities in Indonesia:
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Key Alumina Refineries in Indonesia
1. PT Well Harvest Winning Alumina Refinery (WHW)
– Location: Ketapang, West Kalimantan
– Capacity: ~2 million tons/year (one of the largest in Indonesia)
– Ownership: Joint venture between China’s Hongqiao Group (Well Harvest), Winning International Group, and Indonesia’s Harita Group.
– Details: Primarily processes bauxite from local mines to produce alumina, much of which is exported to China.
2. PT Borneo Alumina Indonesia (BAI)
– Location: Mempawah, West Kalimantan
– Capacity: ~1 million tons/year (under expansion)
– Ownership: PT Inalum (Indonesia’s state-owned aluminum company) and PT Antam (state-owned mining company).
– Details: Part of Indonesia’s push for downstream processing; aims to supply alumina to Inalum’s smelters.
3. PT Indonesia Chemical Alumina (ICA)
– Location: Tayan, West Kalimantan
– Capacity: ~300,000 tons/year (chemical-grade alumina)
– Ownership: PT Antam and Japan’s Showa Denko.
– Details: Focuses on producing chemical-grade alumina for non-metallurgical uses like ceramics and abrasives.
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Recent Developments & Policies
– Bauxite Export Ban (2023): Indonesia reinstated a ban on raw bauxite exports to encourage domestic refining. Companies must now process bauxite into alumina locally before exporting.
– Downstream Investment Push: The government aims to attract more investment in alumina refineries and smelters to boost value-added industries.
– New Projects:
– Several Chinese-backed refineries are planned or under construction, particularly in Kalimantan.
– PT Antam is expanding its Tayan facility and developing new projects.
Challenges
– High energy costs for refining.
– Environmental concerns related to bauxite mining and red mud waste.
– Dependence on foreign investment (especially Chinese firms).
Future Outlook
Indonesia seeks to become a major global alumina producer