Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources: mining Industry facing New challenges should provide opportunities to increase Nickel-Copper Exploration activities

Published: May 22, 2020 14:57

SMM5 March 22: according to Indonesian media reports, mineral and coal (Minerba) business units are facing major challenges in the industrial 4.0 era. First of all, the development of exploration. Second, increase the added value of minerals, especially copper, rare earth metals, manganese and metals in the electric car battery industry. Third, increase the added value of coal. Fourth, transition to mining 4.0.

Yunus Saefulhak, director of mineral development and operations at ESDM, explained that the lack of experience in green space exploration showed that Indonesia had not discovered world-class reserves in the past 10 years. Moreover, Indonesia accounts for only 1% of the world's exploration costs.

'The world exploration cost is $100 billion, and we only have $100m to contribute to Indonesia,'he said. 'another obstacle is that our regulations overlap with other industries,' he said. This requires support for the exploration activities of the primary mining companies, which can forward the IUP to other parties capable of mining, processing or refining activities after the primary mining companies have obtained the data.

Indonesia accounts for 23.67% of the world's nickel reserves. Indonesia ranks first in the world, followed by Australia, accounting for 22.55%. Electric vehicles will become market share in 2025, and even Indonesia is expected to have 20% of electric car users by 2025.

Yunus Saefulhak says the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources offers the greatest possible opportunity for private groups to carry out exploration activities by providing opportunities to junior mining companies. Indonesia has a comparative advantage in the natural resources of nickel and copper minerals and can be developed to support electric vehicles independent of the electric car battery industry.

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