Eco-Efficient Nickel: Heap Leaching as a Game-Changer for Indonesia’s Nickel Industry

Indonesia, home to the world’s largest nickel laterite reserves, is central to global stainless steel and EV battery supply chains. While production has traditionally relied on energy- and capital-intensive pyrometallurgical methods (RKEF, BF) and more recently HPAL, these approaches remain environmentally burdensome and underutilize significant ore resources - contributing to Indonesia’s reputation as a “dirty nickel” producer.

Indoterra Metallurgy Solutions presents heap leaching as a cost-effective, scalable, and environmentally efficient alternative, ideally suited to tropical laterites and low-grade ores. The process enhances ore utilization, lowers emissions and costs, and generates stable tailings suitable for rehabilitation or agricultural use. It also enables recovery of by-products such as magnesium sulfate, advancing circular economy practices and creating new revenue streams. With flexibility to produce nickel for both stainless steel and battery markets, heap leaching offers clear advantages in sustainability, economics, and operational simplicity—facilitating technology adoption by the local workforce.

By embracing this technology, Indonesia has the opportunity to reposition itself as a global leader in clean and responsible nickel production.