PT Timah Begins Processing Rare Earth Metals
Fri 18 Sep 2026, 09:06 AM
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PT Timah Tbk has begun processing rare earth elements (REE) derived from tin mining activities. This is part of the company's efforts to optimize the utilization of tin production by-products, which have so far not been managed to their full potential.
PT Timah Tbk President Director Restu Widiyantoro said the company had previously not been mandated to manage rare earth minerals. However, PT Timah has now begun the process of managing the strategic minerals.
"So we previously reported that we were not assigned to manage rare earth minerals, but in the uppermost right box, we have already started processing to manage rare earth minerals," Restu said during a working meeting with Commission XII of the House of Representatives (DPR RI), as quoted on Thursday (17/9/2026).
He acknowledged that managing rare earth minerals is not an easy task. Nevertheless, he said the company was confident it could carry out the process with the resources available at the company, as well as support from various parties.
"And this is very challenging, but we are confident that with the resources available at Timah, with support from the relevant ministries, including the DPR, that makes us confident," he said.
Restu explained that one reason PT Timah holds an important position in the development of the rare earth minerals industry is that most of the materials needed to process the commodity are found in tin mining activities.
"Because most of the materials for processing rare earth minerals are found in tin mining," he said.
He said PT Timah is currently beginning to optimize slag, or tin production by-products, which had previously not been managed to their full potential. In its development, the company is working with and receiving support from the Mineral Industry Agency (BIM) and Perminas.
"Perminas has been mandated to manage rare earth minerals from upstream to downstream. But in this case, we directly serve as a supplier of raw materials for the rare earth minerals industry," Restu said.
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