Harita Nickel uses nickel slag for land reclamation

Harita Nickel has developed an innovation to utilize nickel slag from the Rotary Kiln Electric Furnace (RKEF) process as a soil ameliorant. This material is being used to support land reclamation efforts in post-mining areas on Obi Island, South Halmahera, North Maluku.

The innovation leverages the physical properties of nickel slag, including its silica and magnesium content and porous structure, to serve as a growing medium. Field studies conducted in 2024 compared plant growth using slag-mixed media against standard media to support circular economy principles. The application is guided by the SNI 9420:2025 standard, which provides a framework for using nickel slag as a soil improver in mining reclamation activities.