Indonesia's Nickel Ore Mining Quota Expanded Until 2025

According to a report by the Ministry of National Development Planning (PPN), Indonesia's nickel ore production is regulated through mining quotas.

These quotas are in the form of a Work Plan and Budget (RKAB) issued with the approval of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM).

In 2021, the RKAB, or national nickel ore mining quota, reached 66 million wet metric tons (wmt).

After that, the quota continued to increase, reaching 299 million wmt in 2025, as shown in the chart.

“Since 2021, the government has continued to increase the nickel ore mining quota in line with the development of the smelter industry,” said the Ministry of PPN in its Indonesia Nickel Industry Decarbonization Roadmap.

“Despite the oversupply issue that triggered a fall in global nickel prices, the government continues to increase the RKAB quota in 2025. Thus, a future decrease in ore production is unlikely,” it added.

Below are the details of Indonesia's RKAB and realized nickel ore mining for the 2021-2025 period, based on the Ministry of PPN's report:

2021

• RKAB: 66 million wet metric tons (wmt)
• Realization: 69 million wmt

2022

• RKAB: 101 million wmt
• Realization: 94 million wmt

2023

• RKAB: 194 million wmt
• Realization: 176 million wmt

2024

• RKAB: 271 million wmt
• Realization: 215 million wmt

2025

• RKAB: 299 million wmt
• Realization: Data not yet available