Techno economic analysis of nickel laterite ore processing to become Nickel Pig Iron (NPI) using Hot Blast Cupola Furnace

Abstract

Processing technology on nickel laterite ore to become Nickel Pig Iron (NPI) using Hot blast cupola furnace is such technology developed to push up the growth of processing industry iron/steel contains nickel in Indonesia. The need of this technology is more urgently along with the enforcement of regulation no 4/2009 in mineral and coal mining law, which prohibits all industry to export raw mineral products without preliminary process. For this reason, in this research, technoeconomic analysis for designing nickel laterite processing plant to become NPI using hot blast cupola furnace was carried out. This research was conducted based on several data processes taken from nickel laterite smelting using hot blast cupola furnace. Techno economic analysis showed processing nickel laterite ore to become NPI using 3 units of hot blast cupola furnace with total capacity 9 ton/day at kabupaten South Konawe, Southeast Sulawesi province was feasible to be carried out, whereas feasibility investment score was fair enough. The net present value (NPV) was IDR 11,278,271,245, and internal rate of return (IRR) was 23.28% with a payback period (PBP) of 4 years and 10 months.