Professor Of Unesa: Jokowi's Efforts To Downstream Nickel Encourages The Add Economic Value Of Indonesia

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Professor of the State University of Surabaya (Unesa) Anang Kistyanto said President Joko Widodo (Jokowi)'s efforts to downstream nickel by processing raw goods into finished goods, encouraged the added value of the Indonesian economy.

"Mr. Jokowi's programs regarding downstream nickel must be supported together, because we don't want to be spectators. We have to be players. So that we can create economic added power," Anang said in a written statement, quoted from Antara, Wednesday, January 11.

Anang said Indonesia is the country with the largest nickel reserves in the world. According to him, the abundant nickel content must bring Indonesia to become a major player in the industry. He hopes that all people support the downstream nickel policy.

Before the export of nickel through downstream runs, in 2017-2018 the export value of nickel ore only reached US$3 billion or Rp46.5 trillion (exchange rate of Rp15,500 per US dollar). When downstreaming runs, the value of nickel exports in 2021 will reach 20.9 billion US dollars or around Rp323 trillion.

Indonesia's revenue is estimated to increase from the value of nickel exports which have been disbursed by 27 billion-30 billion US dollars or IDR 418 trillion-IDR 465 trillion (exchange rate of IDR 15,500 per US dollar).

Currently, the Jokowi Administration is also preparing a Grand Strategy for Minerba Commodities (GSKM), in which nickel is one of the mining commodities that will be drawn up on the road map for GSKM.