JSL Global Declares Commercial Operations of its RKEF Smelter Facilities in Indonesia

Singapore, 08 November 2024

The successful commissioning and declaration of commercial production of JSL Global’s first 2-line RKEF smelter project in Weda Bay, Indonesia, a joint venture with Eternal Tsingshan Group, significantly strengthens JSL Group’s global nickel production capabilities crucial for stainless steel and EV battery manufacturing customers.

The JSL Global’s RKEF Smelter facilities at Weda Bay Industrial Park, Indonesia, received IUI (Izin Usaha Industri) from the Indonesian government on November 7, enabling the commencement of commercial production. This milestone was achieved ahead of the targeted schedule, with trial production commencing in June 2024 and the RKEF Smelters successfully reaching commercial production targets of 80% levels of the rated capacity.

In partnership with Eternal Tsingshan Group, these smelter facilities mark a major step forward for JSL Global in expanding its nickel production capabilities, crucial for stainless steel and EV battery manufacturing customers worldwide.

This joint venture provides JSL Global with a competitive advantage in ensuring a defined and reliable supply of Nickel Pig Iron (NPI) and Nickel Matte to meet the demands of its strategic customer base.

Production Capacity and Technological Edge

The newly commissioned 2-line RKEF smelter has a production capacity of 28ktpa (thousand tons of nickel equivalent) annually, capable of producing both NPI and Nickel Matte. This versatility enables it to cater to various market needs.

“As our first smelter project in Indonesia, it represents a strategic investment in Southeast Asia with a world-class JV partner. The smelter’s electric furnaces are designed to process low-grade ore and provide long-term operational sustainability. The facility is operated under world-class parameters and benefits from expertise in low-cost, efficient production processes.”

Topendra Nayak,
Head of Strategic Investments, JSLGC

Transformative Impact on the Broader Industry

Nickel processing is essential for stainless steel production and is increasingly gaining importance in the battery manufacturing sector for EVs. With the rising demand for EVs, this expansion strengthens JSL Global’s capacity to capitalise on future growth, fortifying the company’s foothold and unlocking new opportunities in a rapidly evolving market.

“This project strengthens our capability to source and supply critical materials, NPI and Ni Matte. The new smelter enables us to ensure a long-term dedicated supply chain while advancing our mission to make the stainless steel and EV value chain more sustainable, creating lasting value for our customers.”

PGH Prasad,
Director and CEO, JSLGC

ABOUT JSLGC

Singapore-based JSL Global is one of the fastest-growing privately held companies operating in the global stainless steel ecosystem. In just five years, we’ve become a trusted and preferred partner for businesses across the value chain, with reliable metal and mineral sourcing facilities, a strong global trading network of stainless steel products, strategic investments in RKEF plants, and 1GW RTC clean power projects under implementation. Operating to the highest ESG standards globally, we are committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

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