Strategic minerals drive industry, government emphasises collaboration
The government has emphasised the importance of cross-sector collaboration to strengthen the downstream processing of strategic minerals as a driver for the national industry and economic growth, amid global uncertainties.
“Because it cannot be denied, to advance we must have industrial downstream processing. We cannot sell raw goods anymore. We cannot do it alone; it must be done together. Collaboration, elaboration, coordination. Without mutual suspicion. Strengthening each other,” said Assistant Deputy for Mineral and Coal Development of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, Herry Permana, at the Indonesia Miner 2026 event in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Herry explained that the realisation of downstream processing investment in 2025 reached Rp584.1 trillion, exceeding the target with a 12.7% annual growth, and Rp373.1 trillion of which came from the mineral sector.
According to him, this trend continued into the first quarter of 2026 with investment realisation of around Rp498.79 trillion, where downstream processing was the largest contributor with a 30% share of total national investment.
In addition, the government has formed the P3M-PPE Task Force through Presidential Regulation Number 4 of 2026 to facilitate the investment climate and eliminate barriers that hinder the acceleration of industrialisation.
“Acceleration, improvement, if there is something that needs to be eliminated, we eliminate it. So that investment for industrialisation can run well,” said Herry.
The government has also established PT Perusahaan Mineral Nasional (Perminas) as a new state-owned enterprise tasked with leading the development and downstream industrialisation of minerals, particularly critical minerals.
Herry said the government is finalising the Presidential Regulation on the Governance of Critical and Strategic Minerals as the legal umbrella for future downstream processing policies.
Regarding global geopolitical dynamics, he assessed that Indonesia is in a fairly strong position supported by its wealth of natural resources, including coal which is still considered to have a significant role.
“We may have shortages like oil and gas, but we also have quite significant coal. God has given portions to each country; it just depends on how we use them,” said Herry.
“We have almost all the critical and important metals needed for the future. We have copper, gold, bauxite, and tin. For nickel, we are number one in the world. We can definitely become the number one player in the world,” said Tony.
The statement was delivered as part of the Indonesia Miner 2026 series, an annual mining conference and exhibition held from 5–7 May 2026 at The Westin Jakarta.