Distribution of mineral resources
Indonesia's metal mineral resources are mainly distributed in Sumatra, Kalimantan, Papua and other regions. The main mineral resources include:
Copper: Indonesia ranks seventh in the world's largest copper reserves, with about 3% of the world's total copper reserves. One of the largest copper mines in the world is located in the Grasberg mining area in Papua Province, and in 2021, the copper production of the mine was 1.33 billion pounds (about 670,000 tons). The second-largest copper production area is the Kolonodale in North Sulawesi Island, with an estimated copper production of about 693,109 tons per year. The third-largest copper production area is the Sloan Kang in West Sumatra, with an estimated copper production of about 419,600 tons per year.
Nickel: Indonesia has 22% of the world's nickel reserves, making it the largest nickel producing country in the world. The largest nickel production base is located in the provinces of South Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi, and North Maluku. Sorowako mine on the island of South Sulawesi is the largest nickel mine in Indonesia, producing approximately 79,000 tons of nickel in 2021, with an estimated annual production of 4.2 million metric tons of run-of-mine ore.
Tin: As of the end of 2021, Indonesia's tin reserves were 800,000 tons, accounting for 16% of the global total and making it one of the world's largest tin-producing countries. The main tin mines are located on Bangka Island and Belitung Island. Data provided by the International Tin Association shows that the largest tin mine and smelter in Indonesia, PT Timah (TINS.JK), produced 26,500 tons of refined tin in 2021, accounting for 7% of global production.
Gold: Indonesia's gold reserves are 2,600 tons, accounting for 5% of the world's total gold reserves of 50,300 tons. The potential for gold mines is almost evenly distributed in every region of Indonesia. One of the world's largest gold mines, Grasberg Mine, is located in Kabupaten Mimika, Papua Province. The gold deposit is estimated to be 106.2 million ounces, and it can produce about 240 kilograms of pure gold per day.
Silver: Indonesia has abundant silver resources, mainly located in Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Papua. The Martabe project in North Sumatra is Indonesia's largest silver mine, producing approximately 2.341 million ounces of silver in 2021, with an estimated ROM annual production of 5.9 million metric tons per annum (mmtpa). The second largest silver-producing mine is the Deep Mill Level Zone Mine in the north, with an estimated silver production of 1,878 thousand ounces and a ROM annual production of 21.66 mmtpa. The other three relatively large silver mines are Batu Hijau Mine, Tujuh Bukit Oxide Mine, and Grasberg Block Cave Mine.
The reserves of bauxite ore in Indonesia are 1 billion tons, ranking sixth in the world and accounting for 3.57% of the total global reserves. They are mainly distributed in regions such as western Kalimantan Island, Bangka Island, Belitung Island, and Riau Province. The West Kalimantan bauxite ore belt is one of the main production areas for bauxite ore in Southeast Asia. In 2021, Indonesia produced approximately 25.8 million tons of aluminum.
