ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA – Indonesia possesses a vast “treasure trove” of radioactive minerals that could serve as a foundation for its future energy independence. These valuable natural resources—particularly uranium, thorium, and rare earth elements—are being positioned as key enablers in the nation’s plan to develop clean, sustainable nuclear energy.
The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) is intensifying research in nuclear energy and supporting materials, covering the entire chain from exploration and characterization to mineral processing. This initiative forms a crucial step toward realizing Indonesia’s vision of building its first Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) by 2030.
Head of BRIN’s Research Organization for Nuclear Energy, Syaiful Bakhri, emphasized that mastering the nuclear fuel cycle from upstream to downstream is essential for achieving national energy sovereignty.
“Indonesia is moving toward establishing its first nuclear power plant by 2030. To reach that goal, we must identify where uranium and thorium resources are located, understand how to process them, and manage their use and waste responsibly,” said Syaiful during a Nuclear Talk session themed “Exploring the Potential of Radioactive Minerals Associated with Critical Elements and Their Processing for National Independence” at JIExpo, Kemayoran, Jakarta, on Thursday, October 30, 2025.
He further stressed that BRIN’s research should go beyond laboratories and lead to real-world implementation through collaboration with industries and academia.
“The technologies we develop must be applicable. By the time Indonesia builds its NPP, we must already be technologically prepared,” he added.
Thorium and Rare Earth Elements: Indonesia’s Hidden Strength
According to I Gde Sukadana, Senior Researcher at BRIN’s Research Center for Nuclear Material and Radioactive Waste Technology (PRTBNLR), Indonesia has significant potential in radioactive minerals and critical elements that remain underexplored.
“The country’s tropical climate and unique geological conditions have created favorable environments for the formation of thorium and rare earth element (REE) deposits. For instance, in Mamuju, West Sulawesi, there is an area of about 800 square kilometers rich in REEs and radioactive minerals,” he explained.
Using gamma detector technology, BRIN scientists can precisely map the distribution of uranium, thorium, and potassium across potential sites.
“Our analytical methods allow us to conduct highly detailed exploration, ensuring that no uranium- or thorium-bearing rocks are overlooked,” Sukadana added.
Monazite: Indonesia’s “Green Gold” from Tin Mining
Kurnia Setiawan Widana, Senior Researcher at PRTBNLR, revealed that monazite, a by-product of tin mining in Bangka Belitung, is a major source of rare earth elements in Indonesia.
“Our analyses show that monazite contains between 56 to 70 percent rare earth elements—an exceptional concentration by global standards,” he said.
Through collaboration between PRTBNLR and BRIN’s Center for Mineral Technology Research (PRTM), researchers have achieved breakthroughs in processing REEs and radioactive elements.
“This collaboration has successfully extracted thorium with up to 99 percent purity, proving that Indonesia has the technical capacity to produce its own nuclear fuel,” Kurnia explained.
Building the Scientific Foundation for Energy Sovereignty
BRIN’s comprehensive research and cross-sector collaboration are laying the scientific and technological groundwork for Indonesia’s nuclear energy future. Exploration of radioactive minerals is not merely about geological discovery—it represents a strategic national effort toward energy independence and innovation-driven development.
By mastering technologies across the entire nuclear fuel cycle, Indonesia is steadily advancing toward a clean, safe, and sustainable energy future. The nation’s hidden “treasure trove” of radioactive minerals could soon become the cornerstone of its journey toward energy sovereignty and a low-carbon economy. (AT Network)
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