Indonesia needs partnerships to master rare earth element technology
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Mineral Industry Agency (BIM) has stated the necessity of accelerating the mastery of rare earth elements (REE) processing technology through partnerships with technology providers to support the development of national strategic industries.
BIM Deputy for Research and Technology Development, Yogi Wibisono Budhi, noted that technological mastery remains a significant challenge in REE development, particularly because the process of separating its elements into single elements requires complex technology.
“What we must do is accelerate through a fast-track approach by partnering with several technology providers, while simultaneously, BIM and Perminas (National Mineral Company) continue the normal process of building the industry, which naturally requires a considerable amount of time,” Yogi said during an event held by the Indonesian Mining Experts Association (Perhapi) in Jakarta on Thursday.
Yogi explained that rare earth elements consist of 17 elements with similar characteristics, making the process of separating them into single elements a unique challenge.
According to him, technological mastery is becoming increasingly vital because global competition regarding strategic minerals is no longer just about resource ownership, but also the ability to build supply chains and master extraction and separation technologies.
Yogi emphasised that the development of the rare earth industry requires an integrated ecosystem, ranging from the certainty of raw materials, resources, and reserves, to technological readiness and downstream industries.
He stated that Indonesia possesses several potential sources of rare earth elements that are still being studied, including primary, secondary, and electronic waste sources.
However, Yogi mentioned that Indonesia is not yet listed on the global map of rare earth element resources and reserves because the government is still conducting surveys and explorations, as well as preparing competent persons to verify the scale of the resources and reserves held.
According to him, information regarding these resources and reserves is essential as a basis for determining the steps for developing the domestic rare earth processing industry.
Rare earth elements are considered strategic because they can be used for various needs, including electric vehicles, wind turbines, clean energy, smart industries, electronics, and the defence industry.
Therefore, Yogi assessed that the downstreaming of rare earth elements must be accompanied by technological mastery so that Indonesia’s mineral resources can generate added value within the country.