Perminas Announces It Has Signed a Memorandum of Understanding to Explore Rare Earth Mineral Potential in the Republic of Gabon

Illustration photo. (Dok. Pexels)

JAKARTA - PT Perusahaan Mineral Nasional (Perminas) announced that it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation on the potential source of niobium resources and rare earth elements (REE) Maboumine in the Republic of Gabon. This cooperation was carried out with New Energy Metals Holdings Ltd (NEM) with the support of Danantara on Monday, February 16.

Danantara CEO Rosan Roeslani said that the potential for collaboration between Perminas and NEM includes the niobium and REE resources of Maboumine in the Republic of Gabon and the potential for downstream rare earth value chain initiatives in the Republic of Indonesia.

"This cooperation reflects our joint commitment to strengthen upstream-downstream integration and build a robust and globally competitive rare earth supply chain that includes the development of resources, processing, and advanced manufacturing," Rosan said in a statement to the media, Tuesday, February 17.

For information, critical materials such as niobium (Nb) and rare earth elements including neodymium (Nd) and praseodymium (Pr), which are the main inputs for high-performance permanent magnets, as well as heavy rare earth elements such as dysprosium and terbium that improve magnet performance at high temperatures, are increasingly essential for modern industry and national resilience.

These materials are key components for electric vehicles (EVs) and broader electrification, renewable energy, including wind turbines and electrical grid infrastructure, advanced aerospace and defense applications, and a variety of high-value industrial uses that rely on secure access to critical inputs.

"The next phase of Indonesia's industrial growth requires robust access to strategic inputs and the ability to convert these inputs into downstream products that are globally competitive," continued Rosan.

He continued, later this MoU will form a Joint Working Group with a mandate to carry out a structured and accelerated cooperation program, including immediate information exchange, joint technical workshops, and coordinated commercial assessments.

The parties concerned will develop upstream and downstream development lines along the rare earth value chain, including separation, purification, metal/alloy production, and permanent magnet manufacturing, with the common goal of creating an integrated and competitive supply chain from resources to finished magnet products.

In parallel with the technical workstreams, the parties will commence fast-track negotiations on potential financing and strategic investments, including equity participation and/or debt financing by Perminas and/or Danantara Indonesia in the Maboumine mine and related project entities.