Hanking’s Indonesian laterite nickel project is located in Southeast Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. In 2009, Hanking Group entered into a cooperation agreement for laterite nickel development with an Indonesian partner and a specialist geological exploration organisation. It subsequently completed equity acquisitions of three project companies—PT. Konutara Sejati (KS), PT. Karyatama Konawe Utara (KKU) and PT. Konutara Prima (KP)—progressively establishing a resource portfolio encompassing mining rights, mine development and supporting infrastructure.
The project covers approximately 78 square kilometres of mining rights. Based on professional geological exploration and a 1.0% nickel cut-off grade, the project contains approximately 334 million tonnes of laterite nickel resources, with an average nickel grade of approximately 1.34% and an average associated cobalt grade of approximately 0.07%. The estimated contained metal is approximately 4.53 million tonnes of nickel and 270,000 tonnes of cobalt. Independent consultants CSA and SRK assessed selected key areas in accordance with the JORC Code, demonstrating the project’s substantial resource scale and development potential.
Supporting infrastructure developed for the resource operation includes mine roads, port facilities and operating areas. The Molore jetty, together with the BSM mining concession and its ore-export jetty, further strengthened ore transportation and port-based development conditions, providing essential support for mine production, materials handling and subsequent industrial coordination.
Building on its laterite nickel-cobalt resources, Hanking Group previously planned the Hanking Fuyu Industrial Park in Indonesia to coordinate the development of mining, smelting, power supply, port facilities, residential facilities and comprehensive resource utilisation. Information from the former website stated that six enterprises had entered the park, which was selected as a candidate project in the first group of China–Indonesia overseas economic and trade cooperation zones. In 2013, the related industrial-park cooperation project participated in a China–Indonesia industrial-park signing event.
The project’s industrial-chain planning examined ferronickel, stainless steel and new-energy battery materials. It proposed the use of established rotary kiln–electric furnace (RKEF) and hydrometallurgical processes to extend laterite nickel development into products including ferronickel, nickel sulphate and cobalt sulphate. The stated capacity figures formed part of the project’s historical planning; actual construction and operations remain subject to implementation and regulatory approvals.
Nickel and cobalt are important basic resources for advanced stainless steel and new-energy battery materials. Centred on a large laterite nickel-cobalt resource, the project connects mine development, port-based transportation and downstream processing. It reflects Hanking Group’s experience in overseas mineral exploration, project development and industrial coordination, while creating long-term value for regional employment, infrastructure development and China–Indonesia industrial cooperation.