DIGIVESTASI - Discovery of Lithium and Boron Resources in Bledug Kuwu, Central Java. The Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) has revealed a significant discovery of lithium and boron resources in the Bledug Kuwu area of Grobogan, Central Java. Lithium, which is currently in high demand globally including in Indonesia, is a primary raw material for electric vehicle batteries.

Moehammad Awaluddin, Coordinator of Minerals at the Center for Mineral, Coal, and Geothermal Resources at the Geological Agency of the Ministry of ESDM, disclosed that there is substantial lithium potential in Bledug Kuwu. The focus is currently on studying the lithium source there.

"We find Bledug Kuwu, Grobogan, Central Java, to be more interesting. Therefore, we are concentrating our efforts there," said Awaluddin.

Awaluddin explained that the lithium resources in the area come from a brine system. He mentioned that samples of water and mud from the area, when dried, can increase the lithium concentration tenfold.

"In Bledug Kuwu, we took samples from the mud and water. When dried for several days, the concentration can increase tenfold. This basin is quite extensive and interesting, so we will conduct further studies on its geochemistry, geophysics, and hydrogeology," he added.

In addition to lithium, the area also contains boron, which is essential for hydrogen fuel technology. "There is also boron there, which is an important mineral," he said.

The study to discover lithium in Bledug Kuwu actually began in 2020 but was halted due to the Covid-19 pandemic. "This study started in 2020 but was interrupted by Covid. We resumed in 2023 and have obtained some promising laboratory results," Awaluddin explained.

Collaboration with French Company

The French company Eramet Indonesia is collaborating with the Indonesian government to explore the potential for lithium across Indonesia. Muhammad Wafid, Head of the Geological Agency of the Ministry of ESDM, mentioned that one of the areas to be explored with Eramet is Bledug Kuwu.

"In the future, the cooperation between Indonesia and Eramet will investigate the extent of the lithium potential, including in Bledug Kuwu," Wafid said during the National Environmental Geology Forum in Jakarta.

If lithium deposits are found in Indonesia, the mineral will be prioritized for domestic use. "We want to ensure these locations have significant potential with the existing technology, which is why we are partnering with Eramet," Wafid explained.

Lithium is crucial for Indonesia, especially for boosting the development of the electric vehicle battery industry. Wafid hopes that the discovery of lithium in Indonesia can bridge the domestic electric vehicle battery industry. "Lithium is important because we don't have it yet, but there is potential in Bledug Kuwu. With the MoU between Indonesia and Eramet, we hope this can become a bridge for Indonesia to become a producer in the electric vehicle battery industry," he concluded.

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