PT Timah to Mine at Depths of Up to 80 Meters
Fri 12 Jun 2026, 10:53 AM
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PT Timah Tbk (TINS) plans to conduct exploration and tin ore mining in deep-sea areas at depths of up to 80 meters as part of efforts to discover new reserves. The move comes as alluvial, or near-surface, deposits that have long served as the company's primary source of production continue to decline.
TINS Director of Corporate Strategy and Business Development Harry Budi Sidharta said the company is currently refining the use of new technologies to support its offshore mining activities. According to him, expanding mining operations into deeper areas has become a key priority to maintain the sustainability of national tin production.
“As our alluvial reserves continue to decline, we will move into deep alluvial and primary deposit exploration. That will be the main focus of our exploration activities,” he said during a press conference following the company’s 2025 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders in Jakarta on Friday (12/6/2026).
The deep-sea mining operations will be supported by a new fleet of vessels specifically designed to reach deposits located further beneath the seabed. Currently, the company’s offshore mining activities are conducted at depths of around 50 meters, but it is seeking to extend operations into more prospective areas.
“In offshore mining, we will also need new vessels because we may mine deeper than the current average depth of around 50 meters, potentially reaching depths of up to 80 meters below the sea surface. We are working to identify new equipment with better prospects,” he added.
In addition to strengthening its offshore mining operations, TINS is also exploring the development of primary mining projects on land. Unlike alluvial mining, primary mining requires more complex mineral processing technologies because the tin ore is embedded in hard rock formations.
“On the production side, new primary mining operations will require different mining technologies. The ore is much finer and contained within rock formations, which must first be crushed into very fine particles before the minerals can be separated,” he said.
Remaining Reserves
Previously, TINS Director of Production and Commercial Operations Ilhamsyah Mahendra said the company is intensifying exploration activities to secure long-term resource availability. He stressed that adding new reserves has become a priority to ensure the sustainability of the company’s business.
“Starting with exploration, we are now carrying out aggressive exploration activities. This is one of PT Timah’s key priorities. We need to secure resource deposits and reserves. Currently, we have around 800,000 tonnes of resources and about 300,000 tonnes of reserves. We need a longer mine life,” as quoted on Thursday (4/6/2026).
The company believes its current reserves are not sufficient when measured against its ambition to maintain a leading position in the global market over the long term. To accelerate the discovery of new reserves, the MIND ID mining holding member has begun relying on digital mapping technology and aerial monitoring across its concession areas.
“I think those figures are only sufficient for 10 to 15 years. We need significantly more deposits to support operations for more than a hundred years. We are also supported by various technologies in our exploration activities, including GIS platforms and drone surveys, to improve exploration accuracy and reduce the time required,” he added.
Meanwhile, the company is also exploring opportunities for overseas expansion in search of strategic mining assets. The strategy is intended to reduce reliance on domestic resources while strengthening Indonesia’s position in the global critical minerals supply chain.
“We are now looking at global expansion, not only expanding our refining capacity but also seeking mining assets outside Indonesia. We are very open to partnerships and collaborations with global tin companies,” he said.
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