Various countries are currently striving to secure Rare Earth Element\n(REE) processing technology, given the complexity of separating the 17\nelements contained within them. The Mineral Industry Agency (BIM) has\nidentified the difficulty of this separation process as the primary\nfactor behind the tight control of technology by several nations.<\/p>\n
Yogi Wibisono Budhi, BIM Deputy for Research and Technology\nDevelopment, explained that all 17 REE elements belong to the same group\nin the periodic table, making them extremely difficult to separate.\nAlthough Indonesia is recorded as having potential for this rare\n\u2018treasure\u2019, the difficulty of adopting the necessary technology remains\na significant challenge.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis has become one of the pin points, where several countries are\nattempting to lock down the technologies they have developed,\u201d he stated\nduring the 36th Anniversary of the Indonesian Mining Experts Association\n(Perhapi) at JIEXPO, as reported on Monday.<\/p>\n
Yogi revealed that the technological lockdown by developing nations\nis not limited to separation technology alone. Restrictions are also\nbeing applied to the supply chain and the specific chemicals required\nfor the separation process.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is not just the technologies they have developed, but the entire\nsupply chain system and the chemical materials necessary for the\nseparation process within this technology are also being locked down by\nseveral nations that have mastered them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Global competition in the REE sector has shifted from the ownership\nof mineral reserves to the mastery of technology and supply chains. This\nshift is occurring alongside the surging demand for minerals used in\nclean energy, such as the sixfold increase in demand for electric\nvehicles and the ninefold increase for onshore wind power compared to\ngas power plants.<\/p>\n
\u201cTherefore, the role of BIM here is to bridge that gap. We want to\nconnect the research results from universities and research\ninstitutions, such as BRIN, with the real needs of the industry,\u201d he\nexplained.<\/p>\n
Currently, the agency is focusing on accelerating research\nperformance and orchestrating collaboration between universities, the\nNational Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), and industry players.\nThis includes the process of scaling up from laboratory tests to pilot\nfacilities and, eventually, to commercial industrial scales.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are optimistic that Indonesia will not merely be a spectator or a\nprovider of raw materials, but will be able to achieve technological\nsovereignty and become a key player in the global rare earth element\nsupply chain in the future,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesia-struggles-to-process-rare-treasure-as-other-nations-lock-down-technology-1789376130", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }