The Mines and Geosciences Bureau participated in the Workshop on Advancing Sustainable Resource Management: Enhancing Underground Mining and Mine Reclamation Expertise Across ASEAN in Bandung, Indonesia from June 23 to 26, 2025.
The said activity was hosted by the Human Resource Development Center for Geology, Mineral, and Coal on behalf of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of the Republic of Indonesia and was supported by the ASEAN-Korea Economic Cooperation Fund. It aims to enhance the expertise of ASEAN countries on underground mining techniques and mine rehabilitation practices that focus on sustainable resource management.
During the four (4)-day workshop, lectures and group discussions were conducted on the following topics:
- Preparing Human Capital Towards Indonesian Mineral Downstream to Support Sustainable Development;
- Overview of Underground Mining in Indonesia;
- Techniques, Safety Practices, and Environmental Considerations on Underground Mine;
- Post Mining Activities/Reclamation in Indonesia;
- Overview of Mine Reclamation and Cooperation Projects of Korea Mine Rehabilitation and Mineral Resources Corporation (KOMIR) in Indonesia; and
- Strategies, Ecological Restoration, and Community Engagement of Mine Reclamation.
In addition, each ASEAN member country delivered a presentation on their respective mineral resources and reserves, policy on underground mining and mine reclamation, and existing and future needs for human resources development in the mining sector.
Site visits to the Mercury Treatment Pilot Plant, Laboratory of Environmental Mine Hazard Assessment, and Laboratory of Mercury Analysis of tekMIRA – Indonesia’s Testing Center for Mineral and Coal; and underground gold mine of PT ANTAM UBPE in Pongkor, West Java were also part of the workshop. Finally, a discussion with KOMIR was facilitated for possible collaborations with the ASEAN Minerals Sector.
The workshop was attended by Engr. Vernier L. Serrano, Chief, Mineral Reserves Inventory Section of the Mining Technology Division and Engr. Celeste S. Aquino, Senior Science Research Specialist, Mine Environmental Management Section of the Mine Safety, Environment and Social Development Division.
