JAKARTA, Jan 17 (Reuters) – South Korea’s MBG Group held a ground breaking on Jan. 2 to build a nickel smelter in North Konawe, Sulawesi, Indonesia’s industry ministry said in a statement.  The ministry said the unlisted company is expected to finish construction within two years, and invest 76 trillion rupiah ($5.69 billion) Under the plan, the smelter aims to employ thousands of workers and cover around 311 hectares (768.5 acres) of land, the ministry said.  MBG was launched as a startup in 2009 within the Korea Advance Institute of Science and Technology, according to its website.