MIND ID Strengthens Low-Emission Mining Production

The transition to a low-carbon economy requires a sustainable supply of minerals to build electric-vehicle ecosystems, renewable energy infrastructure and energy storage technologies. This makes the mining industry a strategic sector in supporting global decarbonisation.

The role was discussed by Indonesia’s mining industry holding company MIND ID during a panel session entitled “From Pit to Planet: MIND’s Climate Action in Mining & Minerals” at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31 UNFCCC) in Antalya, Türkiye.

MIND ID Director of Research, Development and Sustainability Suko Hartono said nickel, copper and aluminium are fundamental materials for various low-carbon technologies, from electric vehicles and renewable energy generation to energy storage systems.

Demand for these minerals is expected to continue rising. In its 2024 report Critical Minerals and Clean Energy Transitions, the International Energy Agency (IEA) estimated that by 2040 global demand would be 3.6 times higher for nickel, 2.5 times higher for copper and 2.1 times higher for aluminium than in 2023.

“The world needs more minerals to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy. The mining industry has an important role in supplying materials for the technologies of the future. However, increased production must also be accompanied by changes to mining and processing methods so they become more efficient and lower-emission,” Suko said in an official statement on Wednesday (11 December 2026).

Suko said MIND ID was implementing a decarbonisation roadmap to 2060 to ensure that increased mineral production goes hand in hand with emissions reductions in extraction, processing and refining.

The strategy covers four approaches: improving energy efficiency, switching to lower-carbon fuels, electrifying operational equipment, and developing a lower-carbon and more circular industrial value chain.

In 2025, the MIND ID Group achieved emissions reductions of 605,000 tonnes of CO2e, exceeding its target of 250,000 tonnes. By 2030, the group aims to cut Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 2.025 million tonnes of CO2e, equivalent to 15.75 per cent below the business-as-usual (BAU) scenario.

Implementation includes various initiatives in mining and mineral processing. B40 biodiesel has been introduced for heavy equipment and operational vehicles, while a shift to B50 is being prepared, subject to operational readiness.

In coal production, the MIND ID Group operates electrically powered equipment such as bucket-wheel excavators, conveyors and pumps, and is preparing to electrify haul trucks.

In processing and refining, MIND ID is promoting the use of cleaner energy, including through integrated electricity supply and the use of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) to support operations at the nickel smelter in Pomalaa.

These efforts are complemented by post-mining reclamation, watershed rehabilitation and mangrove ecosystem restoration. MIND ID is also developing nature-based solutions and assessing the use of carbon capture and storage (CCS/CCUS) technology as part of its long-term decarbonisation measures.

Suko added that MIND ID was using COP31 to explore international cooperation in three strategic areas. The first, the Low-Carbon Metals Partnership, covers the development of aluminium, nickel, copper and tin with improved environmental performance, product carbon-footprint measurement, certification and stronger access to international markets.

The second, the Mining Electrification and Energy Efficiency Partnership, would involve technology collaboration to electrify equipment, optimise energy use and increase mining productivity.

The third, the Cleaner Smelter Power and Climate Financing Partnership, would focus on cleaner energy solutions, greater efficiency at processing and refining facilities, and exploring financing for decarbonisation projects.

Suko said the transformation of the mining industry would contribute more effectively to addressing climate change while maintaining the sector’s competitiveness.

“For MIND ID, minerals and coal are strategic commodities that support a low-carbon civilisation of the future. Through the From Pit to Planet approach, we are committed to ensuring that increased mineral production goes hand in hand with the transformation of mining and processing into operations that are lower-emission, more efficient and sustainable,” Suko concluded.