Indonesia's Tin Reserves Concentrated in Bangka Belitung

Ministry Reveals Extensive Tin Deposits

The Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) has disclosed that the majority of the country's tin reserves, amounting to 91%, are located in the Bangka Belitung Islands. This information was revealed by Tri Winarno, Director General of Mineral and Coal at the Ministry, during a working meeting with Commission VII of the DPR on November 11, 2025.

Details of Tin Reserves and Resources

According to Tri, the 804 thousand tons of tin resources and 310 thousand tons of tin reserves in Bangka Belitung signify the region's importance in Indonesia's mining industry. PT Timah, a state-owned mining company, holds a significant portion of the mining permits in the area.

Mining Permits Distribution

The Ministry provided detailed information about the distribution of mining permits in the region. PT Timah operates 126 mining permits across 473,310 hectares, which accounts for 80% of the total area allocated for tin mining. The permits are distributed as follows:

• Bangka Belitung: PT Timah holds 94 permits, while private companies have 44 permits.
• Bangka Belitung Islands: 19 IUPs are held by PT Timah, and 15 by private entities.
• Riau Islands: PT Timah has 5 permits, while private companies operate 11 permits.

Implications for Indonesia's Mining Sector

The concentration of tin reserves in Bangka Belitung underscores the region's critical role in Indonesia's mining industry. The dominance of PT Timah in terms of mining permits highlights the company's significant influence in the sector. The detailed breakdown of mining permits between state-owned and private companies provides insight into the competitive landscape of Indonesia's tin mining industry.