Downstreaming Mineral Resources in Indonesia in Bibliometric Analysis

INKUBIS: Jurnal Ekonomi dan Bisnis Volume 8, Issue 1, 442-460 e_ISSN: 2775-3913 https://inkubis.polteksci.ac.id/index.php/ink/index DOI: doi.org/10.59261/inkubis.v8i1.204 Downstreaming Mineral Resources in Indonesia in Bibliometric Analysis Brigita Purnawati Manohara1* Muhammad Iqbal2 Hyronimus Rowa3 , Institut Pemerintahan Dalam Negeri, Indonesia Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Hukum IBLAM, Indonesia Institut Pemerintahan Dalam Negeri, Indonesia Suhajar Diantoro4 Tjahyo Suprajoyo5 Institut Pemerintahan Dalam Negeri, Indonesia Institut Pemerintahan Dalam Negeri, Indonesia *Corresponding author: Brigita Purnawati Manohara, Institut Pemerintahan Dalam Negeri, Indonesia. 🖂 Article Info: Article history: Received: Month XX, 2026 Revised: Month XX, 2026 Accepted: Month XX, 2026 Abstract Background: Although research has been shrinking over the last few years, despite growing publications, its recent bibliometric structural development remains relatively underexplored regarding Indonesia's continuing industrial policy after the nickel export ban and Mining Law (2020). Objective: To map research development, collaboration networks, and trending topics while also identifying gaps in mineral downstreaming research. Keywords: Methods: Using Publish or Perish in Google Scholar, 1,000 publications bibliometric; indonesia; mineral (2005–2025) were obtained and analyzed using VOSviewer for codownstreaming; nickel; public authorship and keyword co-occurrence. policy. Results: Publications increased exponentially after 2020, coinciding with Indonesia's nickel export ban. Co-authorship analysis identified 32 connected authors across 8 clusters, with Chinese-affiliated researchers dominating the network (Wang, Zhang, Chen, Li). Keyword co-occurrence mapping revealed 1,083 interconnected items across 26 thematic clusters, with the discourse evolving from resource nationalism and investment policy toward critical minerals, battery ecosystems, ESG, and sustainability. Conclusion: The bibliometric map reveals a maturing but fragmented research landscape, with underexplored areas in green governance, mineral circularity, and domestic social impact. This study contributes the first systematic bibliometric overview of mineral downstreaming research in Indonesia, providing a research roadmap for scholars, policymakers, and industry stakeholders navigating Indonesia's role in the global clean energy supply chain. To cite this article: Manohara, B. P., Iqbal, M., Rowa, H., Diantoro, S., & Suprajoyo, T. (2026). Downstreaming Mineral Resources in Indonesia in Bibliometric Analysis. INKUBIS: Jurnal Ekonomi dan Bisnis, 8(1), 442-460. https://doi.org/10.59261/inkubis.v8i1.204 INTRODUCTION Indonesia is not only known as an archipelagic country and a maritime country, but it is also rich in natural resources (Rochwulaningsih et al., 2019). Among the many types of resources owned by Indonesia, mineral resources have recently become a subject of significant discussion, given that the government continues to promote efforts to increase the added value of commodities (downstreaming) (Farawansa & Gultom, 2024; Krustiyati & Gea, 2023). This has INKUBIS: Jurnal Ekonomi dan Bisnis | 442 Brigita Purnawati Manohara, Muhammad Iqbal, Hyronimus Rowa, Suhajar Diantoro, Tjahyo Suprajoyo Downstreaming Mineral ... been the case because, for decades of Indonesia's independence, the utilization of mineral resources (nickel, copper, tin, bauxite, etc.) focused solely on the export of raw materials, so that the state's revenue from this sector was limited to royalties. Realizing the importance of providing added value for commodities, including minerals, the government, through Law No. 4 of 2009 concerning Mineral and Coal Mining (Minerba), requires mining companies to process their mineral output within Indonesia. In Article 95, letter (c) of Law No. 4 of 2009, it is expressly stated that holders of IUP (Mining Business Permit) and IUPK (Special Mining Business Permit) are obliged to increase the added value of mineral and/or coal resources. This provision is further elaborated in Law No. 3 of 2020, which is a revision of Law No. 4 of 2009. In Article 102, paragraphs (1) and (3), the law reaffirms the obligation to increase the added value of minerals in mining business activities by IUP and IUPK holders. Even in the subsequent revision of the Mineral and Coal Mining Law, passed in 2025, particularly Article 104A, it is stated that the task of increasing added value may be carried out by state research institutions, regional research institutions, state-owned enterprises, regional-owned enterprises, or private business entities to conduct research, investigations, and/or project development in the designated area (Setneg, 2010, 2020, 2025). Global trends toward resource nationalism and industrial policy-driven value chain development have intensified scholarly attention on commodity-exporting nations (Sovacool et al., 2020). Indonesia, as one of the world's leading producers of nickel, bauxite, copper, and tin, occupies a strategically significant position in global mineral supply chains particularly in the context of the energy transition and the growing demand for critical minerals for electric vehicle batteries (Agency, 2023). The downstream mineral policy of the government is not only intended to increase revenue—since the selling price of processed mineral products is higher than that of raw materials—but it is also expected to accelerate the growth of the domestic processing industry. Through this policy, mining companies contribute not only through royalty payments, but also through taxes, PNBP (Non-Tax State Revenue), and dividends (if the operating entity is a stateowned enterprise). Based on data released by the Central Statistics Agency (Badan Pusat Statistik/BPS), in the first semester of 2025, investment realization in the mineral sector amounted to Rp193.8 trillion. This has had implications for job creation, with the second quarter recording the recruitment of 665,756 workers. In addition, this policy is also aligned with the energy transition program, namely Net Zero Emissions (NZE) 2060, or the accelerated target as committed to by the government. Nickel, which is one of the critical minerals, plays a significant role in the battery value chain within the energy transition process (Dugoua et al., 2025; Wang et al., 2026). Therefore, mineral downstreaming has the potential to reduce dependence on imports of clean energy components (Fikru & Kilinc-Ata, 2024; Islam et al., 2022). Although this industry has experienced significant growth and contributes positively to national economic development, it also contributes to carbon emissions, as its primary energy source is fossil fuels. Mineral downstreaming also presents new challenges for the government, including the utilization of low-grade nickel, environmental and occupational health and safety issues, funding provision, and technological innovation. (...truncated)