Indonesia Explores Indian Technology to Process 'Super Rare Treasure'

Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology Brian Yuliarto stated that the government is currently exploring technological opportunities from India related to the purification of Indonesia’s ‘super rare treasure’, namely rare earth minerals.

This follows a meeting between President Prabowo Subianto and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which produced 16 signed cooperation agreements. One of these was a Memorandum of Understanding between the Non-Ferrous Materials Technology Development Centre, MIDWEST Ltd., and PT Perusahaan Mineral Nasional (Perminas).

‘So we are currently exploring technology for the downstream processing, separation and purification of rare earths,’ Brian said at the Palace Complex on Tuesday (7/7/2026).

Brian explained that Indonesia has already sent several teams from Perminas and the Mineral Industry Agency to India. However, the concrete form of cooperation cannot yet be disclosed as it is still in the exploratory stage, although there are two downstream plans, namely a magnet industry and a purification plant.

‘Discussions have been held. India has technologies for rare earth purification and they are also offering technology for the development of a magnet industry,’ he said.

‘We are currently exploring what form this will take, so we hope we can also build a magnet industry and rare earth purification facilities in cooperation with India,’ he added.

Brian emphasised that the ultimate goal of the cooperation is to build a factory in Indonesia, but the exact form is still under discussion. ‘We will certainly build an industrial plant in Indonesia, but what the cooperation will look like is what we are currently discussing,’ said the Head of the Mineral Industry Agency.