Indonesia's Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry is on track to finalize mining quota approvals for mineral companies by the end of March, according to a senior official. Out of 723 firms that have submitted their quota requests, known locally as RKAB, approvals have been granted to about 120 companies to date. The delay in the approval process this year has prompted concerns among nickel smelters over dwindling ore stocks.
Irwandy Arif, the ministry official, did not specify the total tonnage for the approved RKABs or provide a detailed breakdown for each mineral type. However, it was noted last week by a ministry director that approvals for nickel ore production this year have reached 145 million metric tons, with further approvals in progress. This development is part of Indonesia's ongoing efforts to manage its vast mineral resources, including nickel, which is a critical component in the global push towards electrification and renewable energy.
