The Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has identified promising lithium and boron mineral potentials in several regions on the island of Java.
Lithium and boron play a crucial role in the production of electric vehicle batteries, aligning with Indonesia’s energy transition program.
Muhammad Wafid, Acting Head of the Geological Agency, told a virtual press conference in Jakarta on January 19, 2024 that the area with the most significant lithium and boron potential is located in Bledug Kuwu, Grobogan regency, Central Java.
The Geological Agency has identified five locations in Grobogan with potential lithium and boron deposits based on its investigations. Besides Bledug Kuwu, potentials of both minerals are also found in Bledug Cangkring, Jono, Crewek, and Kasonga.
Rita Susilawati, Secretary of the Geological Agency, mentioned that the lithium investigation is still in the early stages and additional exploration studies, including geophysical and hydrogeological studies, will be conducted.
“We still need to carry out additional investigation activities through exploration, geophysical, and hydrogeological studies. It will continue in 2024, and we hope that by 2025, the results will be more conclusive, enabling management and utilization following the current applicable mineral metal auction mechanism,” explained Rita.
Lithium is a soft alkali metal with a silvery-white color and an atomic number of 3. It is known for its unique characteristics, being the lightest metal, having the highest electrochemical potential, and being highly reactive with water.
Lithium is crucial for achieving carbon neutrality and is an essential element in electric vehicle production, lithium-ion batteries, and solar batteries.
On the other hand, boron is a vital component in hydrogen fuel, an alternative energy source for electric vehicles. Boron is also a raw material for neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets and pyrex.
The demand for boron increased by 30 percent in 2022 and is expected to rise further with the increasing demand for electric vehicles and renewable energy industries in the coming years.
In addition to lithium and boron, the Geological Agency has also explored natural hydrogen as a new energy source.
“Natural hydrogen can be utilized as a source of electrical energy, and the geological conditions in Indonesia allow the formation of natural hydrogen,” stated Wafid.
The survey to determine the presence of natural hydrogen in Indonesia was conducted in two locations in the eastern part of Central Sulawesi, namely Tanjung Api (Ampana) and Bahodopi (Morowali).
The survey results showed hydrogen leakage with a content of 20-35 perecent in the Tanjung Api area and 9 percent in the Bahodopi area. Additionally, abiogenic methane and nitrogen were also found in significant concentrations.
Bledug Kuwu is a mud volcano located in Grobogan with several traditional salt mines operated by the local community. The geological formation of the Bledug Kuwu mud volcano, located in the Kendeng Basin, consists of sedimentary rocks, some of which are gas and oil reservoirs.
The mud volcano formed due to tectonic compression and subsurface gas pressure, creating diapiric structures. Farmers channel the water that comes out of the mud volcano, allowing it to settle for approximately two weeks until it crystallizes into salt.
“The salt is then collected, and there is residual water that does not crystallize into salt. This water is taken for lithium analysis,” explained Wafid.
The Geological Agency noted that the water from the Bledug Kuwu mud volcano has lithium concentrations of 103-111 ppm and boron concentrations of 464-534 ppm.
Meanwhile, residual water from the salt mines has lithium concentrations ranging from 1,059-1,110 ppm and boron concentrations of 2,660-2,781 ppm. There is a significant increase in lithium and boron concentrations after the salt crystallizes, making it a new source of lithium and boron.
Apart from Bledug Kuwu, Wafid mentioned that lithium can also be found in geothermal sources. In Indonesia, potential geothermal sources with lithium are located on the island of Java. “There is lithium as scaling or the scaler of geothermal heat, so further exploration can also be carried out,” he added.
