Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — President Prabowo Subianto inaugurated the country’s newly established Mineral Industry Agency, a body tasked with managing Indonesia’s strategic mineral resources, particularly rare earth metal. The inaugurations was held on Monday (August 25) at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta.
State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi said Indonesia holds nearly all types of strategic minerals and needs a dedicated institution to maximize their potential.
“To optimize these resources, especially strategic minerals, we decided it was necessary to form a new agency,” Prasetyo told reporters at the presidential palace in Jakarta on August 25, 2025.
Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said the new agency will focus on the management of rare earth elements, which he described as urgently needed worldwide. By directly overseeing rare earth metals, the government hopes to capture more value for the country.
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The agency’s main duties will include identifying national mineral reserves, extracting and safeguarding strategic resources, and developing value-added industries.
Airlangga noted that rare earth metals are essential for producing magnets and batteries, which play a critical role in modern industries.
Beyond industrial development, the agency will also serve as a center for research and science. In line with that role, Prabowo appointed Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Brian Yuliarto as the agency’s first chief during a swearing-in ceremony at the State Palace on Monday.
The Mineral Industry Agency will operate independently and not under the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, which currently oversees mineral and coal mining through its Directorate General of Mineral and Coal.
Under the new framework, the energy ministry will focus on raw material supply, while the new agency will determine final products and industrial strategy.
(Raidi/Agung)
