AIM PLANT
AIM Project is a modern, integrated, and strategically located processing facility in the Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP).
This project is handled by PT Merdeka Tsingshan Indonesia (MTI), a joint venture between MBMA (through its subsidiary, PT Batutua Pelita Investama (BPI)) and Eternal Tsingshan Group Limited.
In December 2022, MBMA acquired 66.4% shares in BPI, a subsidiary of MDKA. The acquisition was completed in January 2023, resulting MBMA holding a 100% shareholding in BPI and the MTI becoming an indirect subsidiary of MBM with MBM owning an effective 80%.
AIM Project has a strategic location with access to existing infrastructure and close proximity to future acid and steam off-takers, catering to downstream players in the EV battery value chain. Acid and steam will use in HPAL plants.
AIM Project will operate a concentrator for extracting pyrite concentrate, an acid plant, chloridising roasting plants, and a metal extraction plant.
First acid was produced from train 1 and delivered to the end user in Q1 2024. Commissioning of acid plant train 2 and the chloride plant is expected in 2Q 2024. Construction of the copper cathode plant is progressing, with commissioning expected in 2H 2024.
The AIM plant is designed to treat spent ore and high-grade pyrite ore from wholly-owned Wetar Copper Mine (one of MDKA’s subsidiary) at a nominal rate of over 1 Mtpa.
The ore will be transported in open barges from Wetar Island to IMIP port and transported to the AIM plant for further processing to produce a suite of products including sulphuric acid, saturated steam, iron ore pellets, copper sponge, copper cathode, lead-zinc hydroxides, gold doré, and silver.
