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Ceria Group to Refine Nickel with Renewables
WINDONESIA May 27, 2024
A worker watches trucks loading up nickel near Sorowako Village, Nuha District, East Luwu Regency, South Sulawesi Province. (Jakarta Globe).
Electric vehicle (EV) battery materials producer Ceria Group, which is operating in Wolo District, Kolaka Regency, Southeast Sulawesi Province, is dedicated to advancing Indonesia’s global standing in the EV market by supporting a sustainable EV battery supply chain through refining nickel with renewable energy (renewables).
Ceria's initiative aligns with President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's vision for promoting local companies in the green energy sector. The company also participates in important national projects, including the National Strategic Projects (PSNs) and those listed in the List of Private Investment Priority Projects (DPPIS).
The firm signed agreements on May 20, 2024 with the state-owned utility company PLN which focus on Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) and land use for the Inter Temporal Capacity Power Plant. The RECs ensures that Ceria's electricity consumption is sourced from renewables. Each REC unit represents 1 megawatt-hour (MWh) of renewables, highlighting the company's commitment to sustainability by primarily using hydro, wind, and gas power in nickel refining.
Ceria Group Chief Executive Officer Derian Sakmiwata emphasized the company’s commitment to producing green nickel products. Ceria aims to produce ferronickel and mixed hydroxide precipitate with minimal environmental impact by utilizing the Rotary Kiln Electric Furnace technology and High-Pressure Acid Leach (HPAL) processes.
“The RECs ensure our nickel products have a minimal carbon footprint, [thus] supporting our environmental, social, and governance (ESG) policies,” Sakmiwata said.
Sakmiwata projected Ceria's REC usage would increase from 80,000 units in 2024 to 2.2 million units by 2030.
An amendment to the electricity sales and purchase agreement (SPA) between PLN and Ceria also occurred during the signing of the agreement, boosting the firm's power supply capacity to 352 MW. PLN will provide that power through a Barge Mounted Power Plant (BMPP) or gas-fueled Floating Power Plant starting fromm mid-2024. Infrastructure improvements, to be executed by PLN affiliates Indonesia Power and Energi Primer Indonesia, will include the construction of jetties, liquid natural gas tanks, and regasification facilities.
Furthermore, Ceria is supporting the development of a 200 megawatt (MW) gas-fired power plant and a future 200 MW combined cycle gas turbine plant in the area. Those initiatives aim to benefit the local community and support Indonesia's target of achieving net zero emission by 2050.
Source: jakartaglobe.id