Jakarta, Aug. 14 -- Indonesia is elevating nickel, copper and bauxite from basic export commodities to strategic resources underpinning domestic energy security and a broader push for green industrialization.

Speaking at an Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (INDEF) discussion, Minerals and Coal Director General Tri Winarno highlighted shifting global dynamics.

"Geopolitical changes have made critical minerals increasingly strategic. They are no longer viewed merely as mining commodities, but have become crucial to energy security," Winarno said in Jakarta on Thursday.

Winarno said Indonesia, which holds substantial reserves of critical minerals, must maximize their economic and strategic value through domestic processi...