The government is actively accelerating the downstream industry in order to increase the added value of mineral raw materials in the country
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita stated that the first titanium smelter in Indonesia, located in Bangka Belitung Islands, is expected to spur the downstreaming industry.

"The government is actively accelerating the downstream industry in order to increase the added value of mineral raw materials in the country," he remarked here on Friday.

He praised the development of ilmenite processing into titanium slags.

Kartasasmita explained that construction of the first titanium smelter in Indonesia has currently reached 75 percent. With the smelter development, Indonesia can increase the added value of its raw materials and the industrial supply chain, thereby reducing dependence on imports.

Ilmenite is one of the sources of titanium needed to make various high-performance alloys. Ilmenite is the main mineral in mafic igneous rocks, concentrated in layers and found as waste from tin mining or zirconium sand mining.

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Most of the ilmenite mined worldwide is used to produce titanium dioxide, pigments, white chalk, and polishing abrasives.

"The existence of a titanium smelter with Ilmenite, as the raw material, will increase the added value of mineral ores and create jobs in the downstream industry sector, especially those that use titanium, such as the medical device, aircraft, spacecraft, and military equipment," he explained.

The titanium smelter being built in Bangka District, Bangka Belitung Islands, with an investment of Rp1.3 trillion (US$83.8 million), has a production capacity of 100 metric tons per day, and is expected to contribute to meeting the titanium needs domestically and globally.

Kartasasmita stated that the base metal industry is one of the leading sectors in the national processing industry, with a contribution of 10.86 percent (year-on-year) in the third quarter of 2023.

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Translator: Ade J, Kenzu
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
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