PT Inco’s nickel processing plant at Sorowako has an annual production capacity of 65,000 tonnes of nickel in matte (above 75 per cent nickel content). Stages of production are specified as follows:

• Drying at kiln dryers
  aimed at reducing water content of lateritic ore supplied by mining section and separating ores measuring +25 mm and – 25mm.

• Calcining and reducing at reduction kilns
  to eliminate moisture content in the ores, to reduce some nickel oxide to be metal nickel and sulphidation.

• Smelting at electric furnaces
  to smelt calcine as a result of calcinations/reduction to form phased melted matte and slag.

• Nickel grade enrichment at converters
  to upgrade nickel content in matte from less than 27 per cent to above 75 per cent.

• Granulating to convert
  liquid matte to become ready-to-export granules when properly dried and packed.