The Indonesian government continues to promote nickel downstreaming as a key strategy to drive industrial growth and enhance the national economy. Vice Chairman of Commission XII of the House of Representatives (DPR RI), Sugeng Suparwoto, emphasized the importance of increasing the value chain in the mining sector, particularly in nickel, to create sustainable economic benefits.
Speaking at CNBC Indonesia’s Special Dialogue event, he highlighted two major challenges: balancing demand with national energy consumption and boosting industrialization, which currently contributes only 18% to Indonesia’s GDP. To address this, Sugeng stressed the need to expand nickel processing beyond matte exports, focusing on cathodes, precursors, and battery production. As the world shifts towards renewable energy, Indonesia has a prime opportunity to become a leader in energy storage solutions. By strengthening industrialization and sustainable resource management, the country can enhance its global competitiveness, create jobs, and ensure long-term economic stability.
