The Indonesian Nickel Miners Association (APNI) has confirmed that the lifespan of Indonesia’s nickel reserves remains extensive, with significant untapped potential still available for exploration.
Djoko Widajanto, Advisor to APNI, highlighted the considerable scope for further nickel exploration during a public discussion titled “Nickel Industry Downstreaming, Economic Value Addition, and Emission-Free Indonesia 2069” on Thursday, June 27, 2024.
He noted that of the 15,000 kilometers of potential nickel-rich areas, only 7,000 kilometers have been explored so far.
“There are still areas that hold promise,” Djoko said.
He emphasized that the lifespan of nickel reserves could be significantly extended with increased exploration efforts.
“Concerns about our nickel reserves depleting soon are unfounded if we continue to explore. With proper exploration, the lifespan can be doubled,” he added.
However, Djoko pointed out that financial challenges remain a significant barrier to further exploration.
“Currently, there’s a lack of investment in exploration. We are hindered by financial constraints,” he said.
The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) previously reported that Indonesia’s high-grade saprolite nickel reserves are depleting.
Saprolite, a high-grade nickel ore, has an estimated lifespan of 13 years, while the lower-grade limonite nickel ore has about 33 years left.
“We have approximately 13 years of saprolite nickel left, and about 33 years for limonite,” Tri Winarno, Director of Mineral Business Development at ESDM, told a hearing with Commission VII of the House of Representatives on March 19, 2024.
In November 2023, Tri had reported that Indonesia’s nickel reserves total around five billion tons, comprising 3.5 billion tons of saprolite and 1.5 billion tons of limonite.
He also provided estimates for other mineral commodities, including 23 years for copper, 97 years for bauxite, 31 years for tin, and over 100 years for gold and silver.
Furthermore, the Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has reported that Indonesia possesses two million hectares of land with nickel potential, of which only 800,000 hectares have been exploited.
“The potential nickel-bearing formations cover two million hectares. Currently, only 800,000 hectares are under mining permits,” Rita Susilawati, Secretary of the Geological Agency, told an online press conference on January 19, 2024.
This vast potential underscores the importance of continued exploration and investment to fully realize the economic benefits of Indonesia’s nickel reserves.
