ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA — Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) has signed a cooperation agreement with Malaysia’s Greensnow Sdn. Bhd. at JIExpo, Kemayoran, Jakarta, on Thursday, October 30, 2025.
The partnership focuses on research and innovation in processing ion adsorption clay (IAC) deposits to produce non-radioactive rare earth elements (REEs).
Maman Kartaman, Head of BRIN’s Research Center for Nuclear Materials and Radioactive Waste Technology, explained that Indonesia has technological advantages in separating REEs from materials containing radioactive elements such as uranium and thorium.
“Our researchers have mastered the separation of REE hydroxides into individual REEs, achieving uranium and thorium purity levels below 50 ppm, with a processing capacity of up to 50 kilograms per batch. This is an outstanding milestone demonstrating Indonesia’s capability at the pilot scale,” said Maman quoted on November 4, 2025.
He added that the collaboration with Greensnow represents a strategic synergy, as Malaysia possesses IAC raw materials that are not available in Indonesia.
“Through this partnership, we combine each other’s strengths — Malaysia with its IAC resources and technology, and Indonesia with its non-radioactive REE separation expertise,” he continued.
Syaiful Bakhri, Head of BRIN’s Nuclear Energy Research Organization (ORTN), stated that BRIN, together with the Research Organization for Nanotechnology and Materials, will conduct joint research on non-radioactive REE separation.
“This collaboration represents an effort to apply key technologies already developed by BRIN. We aim to implement what we have mastered so far in uranium and thorium extraction, as well as in rare earth metal extraction,” Syaiful said.
With BRIN’s capabilities in REE extraction technology, the two parties plan to move toward downstream industrial applications.
“Through this collaboration, we want to take our research outcomes further and drive technological downstreaming together with Greensnow,” he added.
Greensnow representatives also visited the PLUTHO pilot plant at BRIN’s G.A. Siwabessy Science and Technology Area in Pasar Jumat, Jakarta, which is used for mastering uranium, thorium, and REE separation technologies.
Nik Abdul Mubin Bin Nik Mahmood, CEO of Greensnow Sdn. Bhd., noted that this cooperation is a continuation of previous collaboration among Greensnow, BRIN, and Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) Malaysia in developing REE separation technology from IAC sources.
“The previous agreement will expire at the end of this month, and the targets we set have been achieved. Now, we are moving to the next phase — the establishment of a pilot plant at UTP with BRIN’s support,” he said.
He emphasized that the project carries global significance, as it will become the first pilot plant outside China to process REEs from IAC sources.
“Currently, the technology for processing REEs from IAC is dominated by China. Through collaboration with BRIN, we hope Malaysia can independently develop this technology,” Nik Abdul Mubin added.
“We also hope this partnership extends into the downstream phase, including the production of magnets and other derivative products,” he concluded. (AT Network)
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