Vale finished physical and mechanical construction of its high-pressure acid leach (HPAL) nickel smelter in Pomalaa, Indonesia.
The project has transitioned into trial operations. Production is scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2026.
The facility targets an annual capacity of 120,000 metric tons of nickel. This output will be produced as mixed hydroxide precipitate (MHP) for electric vehicle batteries.
PT Vale Indonesia developed the project alongside Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt and Ford Motor Company. This expansion supports Vale’s strategy to meet rising nickel demand within the global electric vehicle sector.