Supporting National Industry Growth, Director General of Mineral and Coal Encourages Optimization of Mineral Resources
Towards the celebration of the 76th Mining Anniversary which will fall on September 28, the Directorate General of Mineral and Coal is holding several events. One of them is a webinar series entitled ‘Minerba for a Tough Indonesia and a Growing Indonesia.The first series has the theme Mineral for Energy (Radioactive/Nuclear Batteries).
As is known, Minerals are strategic and important natural resources for the development of national industries.This was emphasized by the Director General of Mineral and Coal Ridwan Djamaluddin when opening the webinar which was held that evening.According to Ridwan, since Law no.3 of 2020 is ratified, Indonesia must maximize and add value to the available mineral and coal resources, including Rare Earth Metals (LTJ).
The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has the authority to formulate LTJ regulations and policies, from exploration to industrial establishment.Furthermore, it is necessary to encourage industries that are able to absorb domestic LTJ and its minerals.It is time for Indonesia to have great attention towards becoming an independent industrial country,” he said.
Ridwan also said that from the tin mining follow-up mineral study conducted by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources in 2017, there were development priorities for tin-based strategic industries, namely the defense, health and energy industries.
It can be said that these minerals will be the raw materials for future industries.From a survey conducted by the Geological Agency, there are at least 28 LTJs that have the potential to continue exploration.There are also critical and strategic minerals, where these minerals are very important, irreplaceable, and will become raw materials for various future industries,” added Ridwan.
Ridwan admitted that currently there is no regulation that regulates LTJ, but the Government has formed a team and made the initial preparation of presidential instructions regarding this matter.
“Currently there is no specific regulation, but the government has formed a team, namely the LTJ-based industrial development team and the preparation of Presidential Instructions for the acceleration of LTJ downstreaming.”he added.
Meanwhile, regarding the role of minerals in the battery industry for electric-based vehicles, the Special Staff of the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources for the Acceleration of Industrial Development in the Energy and Mineral Resources Sector Agus Tjahajana explained that Indonesia has a strategic position in the global battery industry.
Indonesia has the largest total nickel resources with 143 million tons and total reserves of 49 million tons in 2020. Not only nickel, Indonesia also has the 6th largest aluminum reserves, 5th copper and 6th manganese. .In addition, the government also needs to prepare regulations or policies to support the acceleration of 20% of electric vehicles through various policies, incentives and subsidies, as well as the selection of the right technology, “said Agus.