Jakarta, Nov. 16 -- Indonesia's decision to ban nickel ore exports in 2020 marked a pivotal moment in managing the country's critical mineral resources.

The policy, known as downstreaming, aims not only to raise state revenue but also to shift the economic structure from commodity dependence to high-technology manufacturing.

Mining companies that once focused solely on extracting and shipping raw ore are now required to develop smelters and processing facilities.

The Ministry of Industry says nickel downstreaming has brought significant economic benefits. Nickel ore that typically sells for around 30 US dollars per metric ton can reach up to 12,000 US dollars when processed into battery pack materials.

"We will continue to optimize th...