President Prabowo Subianto has established a new Mineral Industry Agency to manage strategic minerals and appointed current Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Brian Yuliarto as its head.
The agency will oversee critical materials such as rare earth elements, radioactive minerals, and other strategic resources, particularly for defense-related industries.
“These strategic materials are important for national sovereignty and are expected to contribute to economic growth,” Brian told reporters after the inauguration at the presidential palace in Jakarta on Monday.
The appointment was formalized under Presidential Decree No. 77P of 2025. Brian said the new role would not interfere with his ministerial duties and that the agency would emphasize the application of mineral-related research into industry.
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Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia also commented on the formation of the agency, saying that it will focus primarily on industrial research aimed at creating added value from strategic minerals.
He noted that the agency would play a key role in research and development of high-value minerals such as rare earth elements.
"Under this policy, our ministry will handle the upstream side, the raw materials. For rare earth metals, public access to management will not be permitted—they will be managed by the state. There will be a dedicated governance structure, and we’re waiting for the official regulations," Bahlil said after meeting at the State Palace on Monday.
According to Bahlil, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources will be responsible for preparing critical mineral raw materials, while the final products will be managed by the Mineral Industry Agency.
"The final product will be handled by the Mineral Industry Agency, which is currently still led by Minister of Research and Technology, Brian Yuliarto," he said.
Further details on the agency’s institutional structure and oversight are yet to be announced.
Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak
