INDONESIANTALK.com — PT GNI Denies Claim of ‘Shutdown 5 of 20 Lines’, Calls Report Misinformation
PT Gunbuster Nickel Industry (GNI) has denied reports claiming the company shut down five out of its 20 production lines, describing the information circulating in several national media outlets as inaccurate and misleading.
In a written statement received by the media on Wednesday, PT GNI commissioner Jiang Haiting, accompanied by company advisor Ismeth Wibowo, said the report suggesting the company had collapsed due to the shutdown of several production lines was not true.
“Regarding reports in several national media outlets stating that PT Gunbuster Nickel Industry has collapsed with the narrative of ‘shutdown 5 lines out of 20 lines’, we would like to clarify that the information is incorrect and constitutes misinformation,” Jiang said in the statement issued from the company’s Jakarta office.
He emphasized that the company continues to operate normally and that all production and operational activities are running according to plan and established operational standards.
According to the management, adjustments to production lines are common practice in the processing industry and may occur due to operational needs, maintenance schedules or efficiency considerations.
“Such adjustments should not be interpreted as a complete halt of the company’s operations, let alone described as a collapse,” he said.
The company reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining sustainable operations while prioritizing occupational safety and production stability in accordance with prevailing regulations.
PT GNI added that it is continuing to evaluate and strengthen operational performance to support long-term business sustainability, with support from a prospective new investor — a state-owned enterprise from China.
“We urge all parties, especially the media, to uphold the principles of balance and verification when presenting information to the public. PT GNI remains open to providing clarification and explanations to ensure accurate and responsible reporting,” Jiang said.
Separately, the Indonesian Nickel Miners Association (APNI) also issued a clarification regarding reports on the 2026 revision of the nickel Work Plan and Budget (RKAB) and claims that three smelters had collapsed due to tightened production quotas.
APNI secretary-general Meidy Katrin Lengkey said the statement cited in media reports did not come from a direct interview but from a presentation delivered during a discussion forum held by the Indonesian Employers Association (APINDO) on March 2.
APNI confirmed that the government had set the 2026 nickel RKAB production quota at around 250 million to 260 million tons, as determined by the Directorate General of Mineral and Coal at the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry.
Regarding reports about three smelters, APNI denied that operational suspensions were caused by the RKAB quota policy.
The association explained that PT GNI is conducting maintenance work on five production lines in 2026, while PT Huadi Nickel Alloy Indonesia halted operations at the end of 2025 and PT Wanxiang Nickel Indonesia has suspended several production lines since late last year.
“These developments are not directly related to the RKAB policy,” APNI said.
Earlier reports had suggested that the government’s decision to tighten nickel production quotas through the 2026 RKAB — estimated at 260 million to 270 million tons — had affected the performance of several domestic nickel smelters.
APNI had previously mentioned three smelters experiencing declining production: PT Huadi Nickel Alloy Indonesia (HNAI) in Bantaeng, South Sulawesi; PT Wanxiang Nickel Indonesia in Morowali, Central Sulawesi; and PT Gunbuster Nickel Industry (GNI) in Morowali.
“Three smelters have been confirmed [to have collapsed]. Huadi has completely shut down, Wanxiang is operating only two lines, and Gunbuster has shut down five out of 20 lines,” Meidy said on the sidelines of an APINDO discussion on the RKAB policy in Jakarta on Monday, as quoted by Kontan.co.id.
However, PT GNI insists the shutdown claim is inaccurate and that its operations remain ongoing.
