Indonesia Plans Fisheries and Plantations on Reclaimed Mining Lands
Karawang, Indonesianpost.com – Retrieved from Antara, The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources is set to diversify downstream activities in the fisheries and plantation sectors over the next eight years by repurposing former mining sites in North Maluku.
Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia shared the plan during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Integrated EV Battery Industry Ecosystem project, developed by the ANTAM–IBC–CBL Consortium at Artha Industrial Hills (AIH) in Karawang, West Java.
“We aim to establish new economic centers in the fisheries and plantation sectors by utilizing former mining sites in North Maluku during the 8th or 9th year of this downstream initiative,” Lahadalia explained on Sunday.
He stressed that the goal is to sustain economic activities in North Maluku even after mining operations come to an end. “Once mining concludes, it’s crucial to diversify and develop other downstream activities,” he added.
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In a related announcement at the 2025 Jakarta Geopolitical Forum hosted by the Indonesian National Resilience Institute on June 24, Lahadalia revealed that a roadmap for post-mining downstream activities is in the works. This initiative aligns with the government’s commitment to fostering sustainable industrial development.
The roadmap will serve as a long-term strategy for Indonesia, especially when its nickel reserves are expected to be depleted in the next 10 to 30 years.
Lahadalia further noted that Indonesia not only has the potential to rehabilitate former nickel mining sites but also aims 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 its potential in solar development on former mining and unused sites, with an estimated capacity of 59.45 gigawatts (GW). However, the country currently plans to develop only 600 megawatts (MW) of solar energy on these reclaimed mining lands. (BL)