Kendari, SE Sulawesi, Aug 14 (ANTARA) - Nickel mining firm PT Billy International will soon build a power plant with a capacity of 600 megawatts in Kabaena island, Southeast Sulawesi province.
"The company will build a power plant in Kabaena to meet power demand from nickel industry expected to be built early 2012 and to start operating early 2014," Southeast Sulawesi Governor H Nur Alam said here on Sunday.
The power plant would supply power not only to the nickel industry but also to local residents, he said.
"The presence of power plant and nickel industry in Kabaena island will bring much benefit to the promotion of the local people's living standard. Not only will they be employed at the industry they can also carry out various business activities, particularly to supply the basic needs of the industry's employees," he said.
The governor said the nickel plant would have a production capacity of 20,000 to 25,000 tons fero nickel per year to meet demand from Europe.
He said the company would also build a hospital of international standard and 3,000 house units for its employees.
The hospital would serve not only the company's employees but also local residents, he said.