Mining

As the top nickel producer globally in 2013, the second-biggest coal exporter in 2015 and host to one of the largest copper and gold mines in the world, Indonesia has the capacity to compete with the most prolific mining nations. However, this potential has not necessarily been translated into strong production figures in recent times, and the domestic mining sector has suffered markedly over the past three years due to deteriorating global commodity prices and, more specifically, slowing growth in China, the leading purchaser of Indonesia’s mineral and coal products. Efforts to increase downstream production should be supported by the state’s infrastructure investment programme, while any recovery in the current downturn in commodity prices will boost the industry’s outlook.

This chapter contains an interview with Pandu Sjahrir, Chairman, Indonesian Coal Mining Association.