Reserves Depleting, PT Timah to Mine at Depths of 80 Metres

PT Timah Tbk (TINS) plans to conduct exploration and mining of tin ore at sea depths of up to 80 metres in an effort to find new reserves. The move is being taken to anticipate the depletion of alluvial or surface deposits, which have been the company’s main source of production. Director of Corporate Strategy and Business Development Harry Budi Sidharta explained that the company is finalising the use of new technology to support these deep-sea mining activities. He stated that expanding operations to deeper areas is a top priority in the company’s operational stages to sustain national production. “Now that our alluvial reserves are increasingly depleted, we will advance to exploration in deep alluvial and primary deposits. This is our exploration focus,” he said during a press conference for the 2025 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders in Jakarta on Friday (12/6/2026). The deep-sea mining will be supported by new fleets of vessels specifically designed to reach deposit layers further beneath the seabed. Currently, the company’s average offshore mining activity is at a depth of 50 metres. “In our offshore mining, we also need new ships because we will likely be mining deeper, from the current depth of around 50 metres to perhaps 80 metres below the sea. We are trying to find new, more prospective tools,” he added. In addition to strengthening its offshore mining sector, TINS is also starting to look at developing primary mines on land. Unlike alluvial mines, primary mines require more complex mineral separation processing technology because the tin ore is contained within hard rock. “In production, the new primary mines require different mining technology. The ore is very fine and contained in rock, so the rock needs to be ground very finely before it can be separated,” he concluded. Previously, Director of Production and Commerce Ilhamsyah Mahendra explained that the company is aggressively pushing exploration activities to secure long-term resource availability. He emphasised that adding new reserves is a priority to ensure business sustainability. “We are now truly conducting aggressive exploration. That is one of PT Timah’s main focuses. We need to secure resource and reserve deposits. Currently, we have around 800,000 in resources and about 300,000 in reserves. We need a longer mine life,” he said at the Indonesia Critical Minerals Conference & Expo 2026 in Jakarta, as quoted on Thursday (4/6/2026). The company considers the current reserve levels insufficient compared to its vision of dominating the global market over the long term. To accelerate the discovery of new reserve points, the mining holding member of MIND ID is now relying on digital mapping technology and aerial monitoring within its concession areas. “I think those figures are only for 10 to 15 years. We need far more deposits to last over a hundred years. So we are also supported by various technologies for exploration activities, we use GIS platforms and drone guidance to increase exploration accuracy and speed,” he added. The company is also exploring expansion opportunities abroad to acquire strategic mining assets. This strategy is being pursued so that the company does not solely depend on domestic resources, while also strengthening Indonesia’s bargaining position in the global critical mineral supply chain. “We are now looking for global expansion, not just expanding refining capacity, but we are seeking mining assets outside Indonesia and we are very open to finding opportunities for partnerships and collaborations with global tin companies,” he concluded.