From Bauxite to EV Batteries, MIND ID Builds a Downstreaming Chain Toward Indonesia's Future Industry

JAKARTA – MIND ID, as the Holding Company for Indonesia’s Mining Industry, continues to strengthen its role in driving economic growth through the development of strategic downstreaming projects across all Group Members.

MIND ID President Director, Maroef Sjamsoeddin, stated that MIND ID consistently enhances its role as the manager of mineral and coal natural resources while executing a downstreaming agenda that aligns with the government's mandate.

Through synergy and collaboration among MIND ID Group Members, various downstreaming projects are being developed to strengthen national capacity in processing, refining, and developing resource-based industries. This step is expected to drive economic performance, strengthen energy security, and support the energy transition.

"MIND ID is committed to ensuring that the national downstreaming agenda not only progresses, but also delivers tangible and measurable benefits to the national economy, while supporting energy security, the transition to renewable energy, and the development of Indonesia's future industry," Maroef said during a Hearing with Commission XII of the House of Representatives (DPR RI) in Jakarta on Monday (13/4/2026).

One of the MIND ID Group's primary areas of focus at present is the development of an integrated bauxite–alumina–aluminium chain. MIND ID is building an integrated upstream-to-downstream process where ANTAM manages the bauxite mine, which is then processed into alumina by PT Borneo Alumina Indonesia (BAI).

Following that, INALUM is developing an aluminum smelter, supported by energy supply from Bukit Asam via the Mempawah coal-fired power plant (PLTU).

This integration strengthens the national industrial base as the entire processing chain operates domestically, while also helping to reduce reliance on aluminium imports.

For gold commodities, ANTAM is also constructing a precious metal manufacturing facility in Gresik. This collaboration, which involves Freeport Indonesia as the supplier of gold raw materials, is expected to strengthen Indonesia's competitiveness in meeting the public's investment gold demands.

In an effort to bolster national energy security, the MIND ID Group is taking a proactive role through the development of a Coal-to-DME project to reduce dependence on imported LPG. As the project operator, Bukit Asam has allocated low-calorie coal reserves as the raw material for DME, which includes preparing the supporting industrial estate.

On the critical minerals front, MIND ID, through Vale Indonesia, is developing strategic projects, including low-grade nickel processing in Sorowako as well as the construction of HPAL smelters in Pomalaa, Bahodopi, and Sorowako. These projects aim to produce Mixed Hydroxide Precipitate (MHP) and ferronickel (FeNi) as part of the supply chain for the battery and metal industries.

For tin commodities, downstreaming is directed toward processing tin metal into tin powder through facilities such as Batu Ausmelt and Batu Industri, aiming to increase the value add of national tin products through more diversified derivative products.

In developing the electric vehicle (EV) battery industry ecosystem, MIND ID Group is also building a more integrated industrial chain. This spans from nickel ore mining, nickel processing and refining in East Halmahera, to the construction of a battery cell and battery pack factory in Karawang.

This project is expected to strengthen national capacity to meet the continuously growing demand for electric vehicle batteries.

Maroef emphasized that future downstreaming project development will also be reinforced by a more aggressive research and development (R&D) program. According to him, strengthening R&D is a common practice among nations that successfully develop an integrated upstream-to-downstream mining operations.