Nickel industry activity is directly linked to ore availability. As mining and processing activities in Indonesia continue to expand, the demand for nickel ore has increased significantly. This makes the availability of reserves one of the most strategic issues for the industry’s sustainability. This was one of the main topics presented by Harita Nickel at the MGEI CEO Forum 2026, an annual forum that brings together mining industry actors and stakeholders to discuss strategic issues in the mineral sector.
The forum, which carried the theme “Exploration as an Investment Strategy: Boosting Exploration Incentives to Generate the Next Mineral Wealth,” emphasized the importance of exploration as the foundation of value and sustainability in the mining industry. On this occasion, Harita Nickel’s Head of Exploration & Mine Development, Robby Rafianto, also presented the company’s reserve replacement strategy as an effort to strengthen operational sustainability.
In his presentation, Robby explained that Indonesia’s nickel industry is currently facing structural challenges. National processing capacity continues to grow, driven by global demand. This strengthens Indonesia’s position in the global market. However, on the other hand, the availability of ore for processing also poses a challenge that industry players must address. This is where exploration plays a crucial role in supporting the industry’s sustainability.
“As part of the strategy to replace reserves, exploration is not just about discovering new resources, but also about ensuring long-term operational sustainability. This is reflected in the exploration budget, which continues to grow year after year. Without sustained exploration, the industry’s growth will be difficult to maintain,” he said.
In addition to extensive exploration in areas covered by Mining Business Permits (IUPs), Harita Nickel implements a reserve replacement strategy through a multi-layered approach. This includes additional drilling in active mining areas, re-evaluation of former mining sites where material has the potential to be reprocessed, conducting research to improve ore quality, and acquiring new IUPs.
One of the most impactful reserve replacement initiatives is the company’s efforts to optimize the Life of Mine Plan (LoMP). Through this approach, Harita Nickel implements a blending strategy by mixing internal ore with ore from the domestic market, as well as adjusting the minimum nickel grade standards for processing.
Through LoMP optimization, Harita Nickel is putting a plan into place to decrease the cut-off grade as an attempt to increase the amount of exploitable reserves, or the threshold for nickel concentration. In line with this, various efficiency improvement efforts continue to be implemented at both the High Pressure Acid Leach (HPAL) and Rotary Kiln Electric Furnace (RKEF) facilities, ensuring that the quality and volume of the final product are maintained.
“With our continuously enhanced processing capabilities, Harita Nickel can now utilize resources that previously could not be processed optimally. This expands the available reserve opportunities for the company in the long term,” explained Robby.
The reserve replacement strategy is a positive step in addressing the industry’s challenges. However, operational sustainability is not determined solely by the availability of reserves. On the same occasion, Robby also highlighted other challenges facing the industry, including changes in external factors, rising production costs, and increasingly stringent carbon emission management requirements.
To address these challenges, Harita Nickel is implementing various decarbonization initiatives, ranging from the utilization of a 40 MWp solar power plant, the implementation of B35 bio-diesel, to the reuse of heat from processing.
Through its participation in the MGEI CEO Forum 2026, Harita Nickel reaffirmed its commitment to addressing industry challenges comprehensively and measurably. The initiatives undertaken serve as tangible evidence of the company’s active role in supporting the advancement of the national mining industry through the renewal of operational practices based on the principles of adaptability, efficiency, and sustainability.