Indonesia and Japan Sign Critical Minerals and Nuclear Energy Cooperation Agreement
Indonesia’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia and Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Ryosei Akazawa signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) on critical minerals and nuclear energy during a bilateral meeting held on the sidelines of the Indo-Pacific Energy Security Ministerial and Business Forum in Tokyo on Sunday, 15 March 2026.
“We are very open and pleased to invite the Japanese government and Japanese businesses to jointly develop our critical minerals here in Indonesia,” Bahlil said, according to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources website on Monday, 16 March 2026.
Bahlil stated that the cooperation in the critical minerals sector is intended to strengthen the global supply chain to make it safer and more stable. The Indonesian government, he said, hopes the collaboration will support the development of clean energy technology by leveraging strategic mineral resources owned by Indonesia.
During the meeting, Bahlil highlighted that Indonesia possesses substantial nickel reserves, approximately 43 per cent of total global reserves. Indonesia is also a major producer of bauxite, tin, and copper, and has potential rare earth metal resources that can be developed through cooperation with international partners.
Akazawa emphasised the importance of strengthening intergovernmental cooperation amid unstable global geopolitical conditions. According to him, international collaboration is crucial to maintaining energy security and ensuring stable energy supplies.
He also stated that Japan has established strategic energy reserves as a precautionary measure against potential energy crises. He also expressed appreciation for the Indonesian government’s support for the export permit of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Japan.
Additionally, the Japanese government stated it will continue to support various energy cooperation projects with Indonesia. One such project is the completion of the Legok Nangka Waste-to-Energy Power Plant (PLTSa) as part of the strategic partnership between the two nations.
Cooperation in the nuclear energy sector is focused on technology development whilst prioritising high safety standards. Through this cooperation, Indonesia has the opportunity to leverage Japan’s experience and technology to develop low-carbon energy.
The two countries will also continue discussions on strengthening regional energy resilience. These discussions include cooperation on LNG and coal supply chains, and the acceleration of energy transition projects under the Asia Zero Emission Community framework, including the operation of the Sarulla Geothermal Power Plant and the completion of the Legok Nangka Waste-to-Energy Power Plant.