Indonesia is the world’s fourth-largest zircon producer, with resources and reserves totaling 5.119 million tons, mainly found in the Bangka Belitung Islands, Central Kalimantan, and West Kalimantan.

Bogor, W Java (Indonesia Window) – Data from Indonesia’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources show that the country possesses zirconium resources and reserves amounting to 5.119 million tons, primarily located in the country’s provinces of Bangka Belitung Islands, Central Kalimantan, and West Kalimantan.

The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) revealed a surprising fact that Indonesian zircon grains contain critical minerals that are essential for the global technology industry, ranging from fighter aircraft to electric vehicle batteries.

“Our zircon minerals contain titanium, light rare earth elements (LREE), heavy rare earth elements (HREE), as well as uranium and thorium. All of these elements are critical commodities that are highly needed by the global high-tech industry,” said researcher Herry Poernomo from the Mineral Technology Research Center of BRIN during the Dissemination Series #8 webinar titled ‘Discussion on Indonesia’s Strategic Minerals’ on Wednesday (May 20), as quoted from BRIN’s network website on Monday.

BRIN’s research results show that the highest titanium oxide (TiO₂) content reached 38.58 percent in zircon sand from Indonesia’s Ketapang District, West Kalimantan Province, while total rare earth oxide (REO) content was found to reach 11.27 percent in zircon samples from Bangka.

“With figures like these, Indonesia actually has a very strong foundation for building a titanium and rare earth refining industry. Titanium is a super-strong lightweight metal used in aerospace industries, medical devices, and even submarines,” he explained.

Herry further noted that rare earth elements are raw materials for permanent magnets used in electric vehicles and wind turbines, as well as in the production of automotive, aircraft, and communication components.

Until now, these elements have been exported together with zircon sand in raw form.

“In the future, with the right technology, we will be able to separate and refine everything domestically. The added value could increase tens or even hundreds of times,” he said.

Herry outlined various strategic products that can be produced from zircon processing. About 54 percent is used for high-quality ceramics such as floor tiles, wall tiles, and bathroom equipment, while 14 percent is used in metal casting industries, including molds for jet turbine blades that can withstand temperatures up to 1,650 degrees Celsius.

“Another 13 percent is used for refractory materials that line glass-smelting furnaces. Then 12 percent is used for deodorants (antiperspirants), leather tanning, waterproof textiles, and nuclear reactor components, while the remaining two percent is used in sandpaper and abrasive industries,” he elaborated.

This means, Herry continued, that zircon is not an ordinary mineral but a strategic mineral for the future. From household ceramic tiles and aircraft components to nuclear power plants, all require zirconium.

“Currently, Indonesia ranks fourth to fifth among the world’s largest zircon producers. This position is a very strong initial capital. However, being large alone is not enough; it is time for Indonesia to go further and become a strong nation by mastering the technology to process its own natural resources,” Herry said.

Reporting by Indonesia Window