【SMM Flash News】The Indonesian Nickel Miners Association (APNI) has highlighted the severe challenges facing the national nickel industry, ranging from regulatory pressures and the demand for ESG compliance to the need to strengthen downstream value addition. APNI Secretary General Meidy Katrin Lengkey, speaking at the 2025 ESG Report Forum organized by the China Chamber of Commerce in Indonesia, stressed that the industry must shift its focus from mere production quantity to enhancing value added that benefits community welfare. The industry now faces increased royalties to 14%-19%, higher post-mining reclamation guarantees, the upcoming global minimum tax, the transition to B40 biodiesel, and a minimum wage hike of 6.5%, all of which could raise production costs and potentially force smelter closures amid nickel prices projected to weaken until 2028 if high production continues without stronger downstream development. To address ESG requirements, APNI has consolidated 57 regulations from six ministries with international standards to develop national ESG parameters that will be applied across the mineral sector.