"During the 8th or 9th year of this downstream project in North Maluku, we will begin building new economic centers in the fisheries and plantation sectors by repurposing former mining sites," Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said here on Sunday.
He made the statement during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Integrated EV Battery Industry Ecosystem project by the ANTAM–IBC–CBL Consortium at Artha Industrial Hills (AIH) in Karawang, West Java.
According to Lahadalia, the aim is to ensure continued economic activity in North Maluku even after mining operations end. "After mining is completed, there must be diversification in the types of downstream activities we develop," he remarked.
Earlier, during the 2025 Jakarta Geopolitical Forum hosted by the Indonesian National Resilience Institute on June 24, Lahadalia revealed that he is preparing a roadmap for post-mining downstream efforts, as part of the government’s commitment to sustainable industrial development.
The roadmap will serve as a long-term plan for when Indonesia's nickel reserves are depleted, which is projected to occur in the next 10 to 30 years.
He added that Indonesia has the potential not only to rehabilitate former nickel mining sites but also to repurpose former coal mining areas for downstream industries.
According to a recent report by Global Energy Monitor (GEM) titled "Bright Side of the Mine: Solar's Opportunity to Reclaim Coal's Footprint," Indonesia ranks second globally for solar development potential on former mining and unused sites, with an estimated capacity of 59.45 gigawatts (GW).
Despite this potential, Indonesia currently only plans to develop 600 megawatts (MW) of solar energy on former mining land.
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Translator: Martha Herlinawati Simanjuntak
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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