Harita Nickel has been awarded the Katadata Green Initiatives Award 2025 for its innovative use of used cooking oil as an alternative energy source in its operations. This innovation aligns with the company’s commitment to supporting the green transition and reducing carbon emissions.
The award was presented at the Katadata Sustainability Action for the Future Economy (SAFE) 2025 forum, held in Jakarta on September 10, 2025. SAFE is an annual strategic forum organized by Katadata Indonesia since 2020 to promote the transition toward a sustainable economy in Indonesia.
This year, Harita Nickel was recognized for its pioneering steps in accelerating the energy transition. The company utilizes used cooking oil from its employee canteens as a substitute for coal in its Rotary Kiln Electric Furnace (RKEF) facilities.
RKEF is a method for processing high-grade nickel ore into stainless steel raw material, which involves two stages: a rotary kiln and an electric furnace. The RKEF process is energy-intensive, typically relying on coal or other fossil fuels. By using used cooking oil as a substitute for coal, Harita Nickel has made an effort to reduce its carbon emissions.
This initiative not only reduces the company’s reliance on fossil fuels but also leverages a cleaner, alternative energy source. By integrating renewable energy into the mineral industry, Harita Nickel strengthens Indonesia’s role in the global decarbonization agenda, demonstrating that sustainability can go hand-in-hand with national industrial growth.
"This award encourages us to continue strengthening our sustainability agenda across every line of our operations," said Tonny Gultom, Director of Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) at Harita Nickel.
"The use of used cooking oil is a tangible proof that the mining industry can transform toward greener energy," Tonny added.
Beyond this, the company also implements circular economy principles, processing waste materials like plastic into alternative fuels and used bottles into biofilter media for wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs).
Based on its 2024 Sustainability Report, Harita Nickel recorded that the company's use of sustainable energy reached 23.8%. Concurrently, through various sustainability initiatives, the company successfully reduced approximately 1.5 million tons of carbon emissions. With these achievements, Harita Nickel proves that sustainability can go hand-in-hand with national industrial growth, while strengthening Indonesia's role in the global decarbonization agenda.