Plat Besi

Study by Plat Besi on Minerals Resources in Indonesia

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Indonesia is one of the world’s leading mineral producers, endowed with vast reserves across dozens of commodities. Here’s a Plat Besi snapshot of its key mineral resources:

  • Nickel

    • Global ranking: 1st, ~42 % of known reserves

    • Location: Sulawesi, Maluku, and Halmahera islands

    • Policy: Ban on raw‐ore exports and looming export taxes to spur local refining (potentially adding $35 B of downstream value) (The Importance of Mineral Downstreaming in Indonesia, Indonesia Eyes Nickel Export Tax as It Pushes for More Local Refining)

  • Bauxite (Aluminum ore)

    • Global ranking: 4th, ~9.8 % of global reserves

    • Location: Riau and West Kalimantan provinces (The Importance of Mineral Downstreaming in Indonesia)

  • Tin

    • Global ranking: 1st, ~34.5 % of global reserves

    • Location: Bangka‐Belitung and Singkep islands (The Importance of Mineral Downstreaming in Indonesia)

  • Copper

    • Global ranking: 9th, ~2 % of global reserves

    • Major mine: Grasberg in Papua (also the world’s second‐largest gold mine) (The Importance of Mineral Downstreaming in Indonesia)

  • Gold

    • Global ranking: 4th, ~5.8 % of global reserves

    • Major mine: Grasberg and smaller epithermal deposits across Java and Sulawesi (The Importance of Mineral Downstreaming in Indonesia)

  • Coal

    • Global ranking: 6th, ~3 % of global reserves

    • Main basins: South Sumatra, Jasa Bali and Kalimantan (East, South, Central) (The Importance of Mineral Downstreaming in Indonesia)

  • Other notable commodities: manganese, cobalt, quartz sand (critical for solar panels), sulfur, iodine, marble, and more (Bahlil Lahadalia Reveals 28 Priority Commodities … – Indonesia Miner)

Policy & Industry Outlook

  • Downstream push: The government has identified 28 priority commodities—including coal, nickel, tin, copper, bauxite, gold, and silver—for downstream processing to capture greater value domestically (Bahlil Lahadalia Reveals 28 Priority Commodities jual buah import … – Indonesia Miner).

  • 2025 mining‐law reforms: Recent amendments prioritize concessions for companies investing in processing facilities and open access to small firms and religious groups, bolstering local industry like jual daging kerbau fresh while aligning with constitutional court mandates (Indonesia amends mining law to boost access, support processing).

  • International collaboration: Indonesia and the UK signed an MoU on critical‐minerals cooperation to enhance supply‐chain resilience, sustainable processing, and technical exchanges

Environmental & Social Considerations

Rapid expansion—especially of nickel laterite mining—has raised serious environmental concerns. In Raja Ampat, sedimentation from coastal mining threatens one of the planet’s most biodiverse marine ecosystems, imperiling coral reefs, hawksbill turtles, and manta rays (Experts and advocates warn of nickel mining’s risk to precious marine region of Indonesia).

Bottom line:
 Indonesia’s mineral wealth—spanning base metals, precious metals, and critical‐energy minerals—places it at the heart of global supply chains. The country is now pivoting from raw exports toward in-country refining and value addition, even as it grapples with environmental stewardship and equitable access to mining opportunities.

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