Global 34% Nickel Ore Reserves Located in Indonesia

U.S. Geological Survey data show that 43% of global nickel reserves are located in Indonesia, confirmed by the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources.The Indonesian Mineral and Coal Resources and Reserves Balance Report 2025 (data updated to December 2024), published by the Indonesian Geological Agency (BGI), shows that Indonesia's nickel reserves in 2024 were 5,913 million tons, with 3,818 million tons of inferred reserves and 2,095 million tons of proved reserves. Based on the estimated 173 million tons of annual nickel production in 2024, Indonesia's nickel reserves are expected to last another 34 years. Indonesia has stopped nickel ore exports since 2020, promoting the downstream industry of nickel resources.Indonesia's nickel downstream industry exports amounted to US$33.9 billion (about Rp55.551 trillion) in 2024, a significant increase from US$3.3 billion (about Rp54.07 trillion) in 2017. Indonesia promotes the use of nickel in the production of electric vehicle batteries, where low-grade nickel (limonite) is more efficient in battery production and theserpentine (geology)Further technological improvements are needed and costs are high. The success of Indonesia's nickel industry has sparked global business competition, while facing negative publicity from other countries about its environmentally unfriendly management of natural resources.