Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia is elevating nickel, copper and bauxite from basic export commodities to strategic resources underpinning domestic energy security and a broader push for green industrialization.Speaking at an Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (INDEF) discussion, Minerals and Coal Director General Tri Winarno highlighted shifting global dynamics.“Geopolitical changes have made critical minerals increasingly strategic. They are no longer viewed merely as mining commodities, but have become crucial to energy security,” Winarno said in Jakarta on Thursday.Winarno said Indonesia, which holds substantial reserves of critical minerals, must maximize their economic and strategic value through domestic processing.He said the government is working to make critical minerals a cornerstone of national energy self-sufficiency and industrial development.A key element of the strategy is accelerating downstream processing to strengthen Indonesia’s position in global supply chains.By refining minerals domestically instead of exporting unprocessed ore, Indonesia aims to capture greater economic value and develop higher-value industries.Winarno cited nickel, a key electric-vehicle battery material, as an example of how downstream processing could help Indonesia secure a larger role in global clean-energy supply chains.“Energy security is also determined by the ability to master technological raw materials, manufacturing capacity, and the industrial supply chain,” Winarno said.He said downstreaming critical minerals would strengthen national energy resilience while supporting economic growth, investment and job creation.Non-tax state revenue from the mineral and coal sector reached Rp135 trillion (US$8.3 billion) in 2025, with further growth expected in 2026.“By the end of June 2026, non-tax state revenue had reached Rp76 trillion (US$4.67 billion),” Winarno said. Downstreaming also attracted US$6.7 billion in investment and created 685,000 jobs.