Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. (5713), Japan’s top nickel producer, said it has joined PT Vale Indonesia Tbk (INCO) on a pre-feasibility study for a nickel processing plant in Indonesia.

The companies also started an environmental impact assessment, Tokyo-based Sumitomo Metal said in a statement today. Sumitomo Metal owns a 20.09 percent stake in Jakarta- based Vale Indonesia.

To contact the reporters on this story: Jae Hur in Tokyo at jhur1@bloomberg.net; Ichiro Suzuki in 東京 at isuzuki@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Brett Miller at bmiller30@bloomberg.net