Vale Secures 2026 RKAB Approval, Ramps Up Operations and Investment

JAKARTA, Investortrust.id — PT Vale Indonesia Tbk or INCO secures approval for its 2026 Work Plan and Budget on Thursday, Jan 15, 2026 in Jakarta, enabling the company to resume operations and accelerate investment as the government reinstates annual mining approvals.

The approval for the plan and budget, known as RKAB, was granted by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and marked a key milestone for operational certainty in the nickel sector.

INCO said the decision strengthened its position within the national nickel ecosystem and the global supply chain under state mining holding MIND ID.

As an integrated nickel miner committed to sustainability, the company said regulatory clarity was essential for long term business continuity.

Following the approval, operations and construction activities resumed across three key locations. Production and development restarted in Sorowako, Pomalaa, and Bahodopi, with all activities conducted under strict safety standards and licensing requirements.

The approval also reflected a shift in government policy back to an annual RKAB scheme. The policy replaced the previous three year approval system that had been bundled with other baseline permits.

President Director and Chief Executive Officer Bernardus Irmanto said the annual framework reinforced production discipline, governance, and sustainability across the nickel industry. “With a complete permitting foundation, all our activities are now running again in a normal, compliant, and sustainable manner,” Bernardus said on Thursday.

With the 2026 RKAB in effect, the company continued its production plans and ensured supply continuity for domestic processing and refining industries.

With more than five decades of operations in Indonesia, INCO said it continued to contribute through taxes, non tax state revenue, job creation, and long term downstream investment.

In line with government priorities, the company also advanced low emission technologies and expanded downstream processing capacity. This included continued development of High Pressure Acid Leach technology to strengthen Indonesia’s nickel competitiveness in global markets.

INCO reaffirmed its commitment as a strategic partner to the government in building a responsible, competitive, and sustainable national nickel industry.