Vale secures 2026 nickel mining quotas in Indonesia

Vale

Vale secures 2026 nickel mining quotas in Indonesia after its subsidiary Vale Indonesia Tbk received government approval for its 2026 work plan and budget. Vale secures 2026 nickel mining quotas in Indonesia following a temporary halt on 2 January while the approval was pending. As a result, Vale secures 2026 nickel mining quotas in Indonesia and moves to restart operations across Sulawesi.

RKAB approval clears a key operating bottleneck

RKAB approval removes a legal barrier to mine and construction activity. Vale Indonesia can now restart output planning at Sorowako and re-mobilize teams at Pomalaa and Bahodopi. Meanwhile, the approval also reduces broader market anxiety about delayed permits and constrained ore flows.

Vale’s early clearance sets a reference point for the rest of the sector. However, the pace of approvals across other miners will still shape Indonesia’s nickel ore availability in 2026. Therefore, smelters and battery supply chains will watch permitting timelines as closely as prices.

Sulawesi sites link mining to nickel matte and battery growth

Vale Indonesia’s Sorowako site anchors current nickel matte production. The company produced 54,975 tonnes of nickel in matte in the first nine months of 2025. Meanwhile, its Pomalaa project, structured as the Kolaka Nickel Indonesia joint venture, targets a new growth leg.

Pomalaa matters because it connects Indonesian nickel to global battery manufacturing demand. The project includes partners Huayou Cobalt and Ford and targets 120,000 tonnes per year of capacity. As a result, Vale’s Indonesia portfolio increasingly spans both near-term matte supply and longer-term battery materials scale-up.

The Metalnomist Commentary

Vale’s approval highlights how permitting risk can move markets even before metal moves. However, Indonesia’s 2026 supply picture will still depend on how fast other RKAB approvals arrive. The next advantage will go to producers that pair compliance speed with reliable ramp-ups.