Jakarta (ANTARA) - The newly appointed Head of the Mineral Industry Agency, Brian Yuliarto, stated that the agency is tasked with managing strategic materials essential to the defense industry.“The President asked me to lead the Mineral Industry Agency. This agency will oversee the strategic materials industry linked to national defense,” Yuliarto said at the Presidential Palace Complex in Jakarta on Monday.
Yuliarto, who is also the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, emphasized that these materials are vital not only for national sovereignty but also for strengthening the economy.
The agency’s scope includes rare earth metals and radioactive minerals.
Yuliarto noted that the Mineral Industry Agency will coordinate closely with the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology to manage these resources effectively.
“Given the high technological content, we’re encouraging universities to advance rare earth research for industrial applications,” he added.
President Prabowo Subianto officially appointed Yuliarto as Head of the Mineral Industry Agency through Presidential Decree No. 77P/2025.
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Born in Jakarta on July 27, 1975, Yuliarto graduated with a degree in Engineering Physics from the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) in 1999 and is recognized nationally and internationally for his work in nanotechnology.
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The Mineral Industry Agency was previously under the Directorate General of Minerals and Coal at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM).
Its current focus includes downstream processing of key minerals—such as nickel, bauxite, copper, and rare earths—to meet rising global demand for clean energy and battery technologies.
