What Halmahera Persada Lygend does

Halmahera Persada Lygend (HPAL) is an Indonesian nickel processing joint venture that operates the country's first High Pressure Acid Leach (HPAL) hydrometallurgical plant, located in the Pulau Obi industrial area, Halmahera Selatan, North Maluku. Formally established and commencing commercial operations on June 23, 2021 following a 28-month construction period, the company processes low-grade nickel limonite ore (under 1.5% nickel content) — material previously considered uneconomical overburden — into Mixed Hydroxide Precipitate (MHP), battery-grade nickel sulfate (NiSO4), and cobalt sulfate (CoSO4). The core technology centers on large autoclave vessels (36m length, 5m diameter, approximately 900 tons) operating under high pressure and temperature with sulfuric acid to extract nickel and cobalt from ore that RKEF and pyrometallurgical routes cannot economically process.

The company's product portfolio includes MHP at a nameplate capacity of up to 365,000 tonnes per year (250,000 tonnes after the second production line commissioned December 2021), nickel sulfate at 240,000 MT/year (54,000 tonnes of contained nickel metal) at the world's largest such plant inaugurated May 31, 2023, and cobalt sulfate at 20,000 tonnes/year. The HPAL project represents an initial investment of approximately US$1 billion (Rp15 trillion), with an additional US$1.1 billion committed to Phase III expansion via the ONC joint venture adding 65,000 tonnes nickel sulfate and 75,000 tonnes cobalt capacity. The company's products serve as primary cathode precursor materials for lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles, with the first-ever Indonesian nickel sulfate export (5,584 tonnes in 290 containers) shipped to China in June 2023.

HPAL is a privately held joint venture owned 45.1% by Harita Nickel (through PT Trimegah Bangun Persada, the integrated mining parent), 36.9% by Chinese nickel supply chain operator Lygend Resources Technology Co. Ltd (which transferred the HPAL process know-how), and 18% by Singapore-based investor Kang Xuan Pte Ltd. The company operates under National Strategic Project designation per Presidential Decree No. 109 of 2020, with multi-ministerial government engagement. Revenue mechanics are B2B commodity contract pricing to global battery manufacturers and Chinese cathode precursor processors; pricing is not publicly disclosed. The go-to-market is direct enterprise sales to large industrial buyers in the EV battery supply chain, primarily in China, with products shipped in bulk containers. The captive ore supply comes from parent company TBP and affiliate PT Gane Permai Sentosa mining concessions on Obi Island, providing vertical integration from mine through hydrometallurgical processing.

Name

Halmahera Persada Lygend

Legal name

PT Halmahera Persada Lygend

Website

https://hpalnickel.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Halmahera Persada Lygend operates Indonesia's first High Pressure Acid Leach (HPAL) plant on Obi Island, processing low-grade nickel limonite into Mixed Hydroxide Precipitate, nickel sulfate, and cobalt sulfate for lithium-ion battery cathode manufacturers serving the global EV supply chain.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nickel Processing and Battery Materials Manufacturing

NAICS

Other Basic Inorganic Chemical Manufacturing (325180)

SIC

Industrial Inorganic Chemicals (2810), Primary Smelting & Refining Of Nonferrous Metals (3330)

akta.pro primary industry

Battery-Grade Chemical Processing (LiOH/Li2CO3, Ni/Co Sulfates, Mn Sulfate) (IMAKAFAI)

Keywords

• Nickel processing
• Battery raw materials
• Hydrometallurgical refining
• Cathode precursor materials
• Nickel sulfate production

Headquarters

HQ city

Jakarta

HQ country

Indonesia

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Mixed Hydroxide Precipitate (MHP) Sales: Production and sale of MHP - an intermediate product containing mixed nickel-cobalt hydroxide precipitate from HPAL processing. MHP is exported and serves as feedstock for further processing into battery materials.
2. Nickel Sulfate Sales: Production and sale of nickel sulfate (NiSO4) - primary cathode precursor material for lithium batteries used in electric vehicles. First Indonesia producer with largest global capacity at 240,000 MT/year.
3. Cobalt Sulfate Sales: Production and sale of cobalt sulfate (CoSO4) - cathode material for lithium batteries. Produced alongside nickel sulfate from MHP processing. Capacity under development with trial production from April 2023.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Halmahera Persada Lygend (HPAL) operates an HPAL (High Pressure Acid Leach) hydrometallurgical refinery on Pulau Obi, Indonesia, processing low-grade nickel limonite ore into Mixed Hydroxide Precipitate (MHP), battery-grade nickel sulfate (NiSO4), and cobalt sulfate (CoSO4) for electric vehicle battery cathode precursor supply chains.

Product overview

Halmahera Persada Lygend (HPAL) operates as a nickel processing and refining company within the Harita Nickel integrated mining complex on Obi Island. The company offers a vertically integrated portfolio of nickel processing products, starting with HPAL (High Pressure Acid Leach) technology to process low-grade nickel limonite ore that was previously considered uneconomical overburden. The core product line includes Mixed Hydroxide Precipitate (MHP) as an intermediate product, refined into Nickel Sulfate (NiSO4) and Cobalt Sulfate (CoSO4) for electric vehicle battery manufacturing. The HPAL technology platform represents the company's primary processing capability, while affiliated operations produce Ferronickel through RKEF processing. The company operates as part of Harita Group's Proyek Strategis Nasional (National Strategic Project) in Pulau Obi.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Nickel Sulfate (NiSO4) Battery-grade nickel sulfate produced through HPAL hydrometallurgical processing of low-grade nickel limonite ore. Used as a primary component in lithium battery cathode precursors for electric vehicles. The plant has a production capacity of 240,000 metric tons per year (containing 54,000 tons of nickel metal per year).
• Cobalt Sulfate (CoSO4) Battery-grade cobalt sulfate produced as a derivative product from HPAL processing of nickel-cobalt limonite ore. Used as cathode material for lithium batteries in electric vehicles, with planned capacity of 20,000 tonnes per year.
• Mixed Hydroxide Precipitate (MHP) Intermediate product from HPAL processing containing mixed nickel and cobalt hydroxide precipitates. Serves as feedstock for further refinement into nickel sulfate and cobalt sulfate for EV battery production. Second production line increased capacity to 250,000 tonnes per year.
• HPAL (High Pressure Acid Leach) Processing Technology Proprietary hydrometallurgical technology for processing low-grade nickel limonite ore. Uses large autoclave vessels (36m length, 5m diameter, ~900 tons) under high pressure and temperature with sulfuric acid to extract nickel and cobalt, enabling recovery of previously uneconomical ore deposits.
• Ferronickel (FeNi) Ferro-nickel product produced through RKEF (Rotary Kiln-Electric Furnace) processing of high-grade nickel saprolite ore at affiliated operations within the Harita Nickel integrated complex.

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• PT GDSKminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 17 September 2022Catering vendor operating at Obi Island site purchasing soybean products (tofu and tempeh) from community empowerment program RUTE in Soligi Village.
• PT AdenminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 17 September 2022Catering vendor at Obi Island purchasing soybean products from RUTE community program. Actively seeking local suppliers to replace outside-Obi sourcing.
• Lygend Resources Technology Co. LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2021Chinese joint venture partner holding 36.9% ownership in PT Halmahera Persada Lygend. Lygend is a nickel supply chain company established in 2009 in Zhejiang, China, with integrated operations from upstream to downstream. Brought HPAL technology expertise and served as technology partner for the first HPAL plant in Indonesia.
• Universitas Khairun (Unkhair)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 April 2021Ternate-based university partnership for environmental conservation including mangrove rehabilitation program (3,000 seedlings planted) and marine ecosystem research collaboration in Obi Island waters.
• PT Trimegah Bangun Persada (TBP/NCKL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company holding 45.1% stake in HPL. TBP is the mining arm of Harita Group operating the IUP mining concession that supplies nickel ore (limonite and saprolite) to HPAL. Provides ore supply from its Obi Island mining operations.
• PT Gane Permai Sentosa (GPS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHarita Group affiliate providing additional nickel ore supply from its mining concession on Obi Island to support HPAL operations.
• Benchmark Mineral Intelligence (BMI)minorOthersInternational consulting firm that accompanied government officials during site visit to Obi Island in May 2023, providing independent assessment of HPAL operations and production processes.
• Government of IndonesiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Strategic Project status under Presidential Decree No. 109/2020. Multiple ministries support operations including inauguration by Coordinating Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan and ongoing monitoring by Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Investment.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Nickel Mines Limited: Australia-listed nickel producer operating the Hengjaya, Ranger, and Oracle nickel mines and RKEF processing facilities in Indonesia through partnerships with Tsingshan and Shanghai Decent. Comparable Indonesian operations producing nickel products for stainless steel and battery supply chains.
• CNGR Advanced Material: Chinese battery materials company producing nickel sulfate, cobalt sulfate, and precursor cathode active materials. Operates Indonesian nickel processing facilities and directly competes with HPAL in supplying Chinese battery/EV supply chains.
• Lygend Resources Technology: Chinese nickel supply chain company and HPAL's JV partner (36.9% owner). Operates integrated nickel mining and processing facilities in Indonesia and produces nickel sulfate and cobalt sulfate using HPAL technology—directly comparable product line and customer base.
• GEM Co. Chinese battery materials and nickel/cobalt producer operating HPAL facilities in Indonesia (QMB joint venture with Huayou) and recycling operations. Competes directly in nickel sulfate production for cathode precursors with similar customer base of Chinese battery makers.
• Huayou Cobalt: Chinese integrated battery materials producer with significant nickel sulfate and cobalt sulfate operations in Indonesia (including the QMB joint venture). Direct competitor in producing battery-grade nickel/cobalt sulfates for the EV cathode supply chain.

Broad incumbents

• Eramet: French mining and metallurgy company with significant nickel operations in New Caledonia (SLN) and Indonesia-focused Weda Bay project through partnership with Tsingshan. Major established nickel producer with broader portfolio including manganese and alloys.
• Jinchuan Group: Chinese state-owned nonferrous metals conglomerate and one of China's largest nickel/cobalt producers. Operates integrated nickel mining, smelting, and chemical production including battery-grade nickel sulfate—directly comparable product portfolio for global battery materials markets.
• Tsingshan Holding Group: World's largest stainless steel producer with vertically integrated Indonesian nickel operations spanning mining (through IMIP and IWIP industrial parks), RKEF ferronickel production, and growing HPAL nickel sulfate capacity. Most relevant Indonesian incumbent with massive scale.

Emerging players

• Poseidon Nickel: Australia-listed nickel developer and emerging player exploring downstream processing opportunities. Smaller-scale peer with potential to enter battery materials space, useful as an emerging comparator for nickel processing strategy.

Regional players

• Vale Indonesia: Indonesian subsidiary of Brazilian mining major Vale, operating large-scale nickel mining and processing in Sulawesi. Focused on matte production for battery materials supply chains; serves as an incumbent Indonesian nickel peer with established scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@HaritaNickel
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• Instagraminstagram.com/harita.nickel
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pt-halmahera-persada-lygend-hpal

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Halmahera Persada Lygend