Visit by Indonesian Embassy representatives to BGS
Strengthening BGS/Indonesia scientific research partnerships to address the complex challenges Indonesia faces from natural hazards and maximising opportunities from mineral resources and geothermal energy.
27/08/2024 By BGS Press
The environmental and societal challenges we face today are complex and multi-disciplinary. Addressing these challenges whilst maximising the opportunities for social and economic growth requires new and innovative ways of approaching problems through creative partnerships and collaborations.
BGS has a history and track record of collaborative science research partnerships in Indonesia. Recognising the need to further develop these relations, the BGS head office in Keyworth hosted a visit from Prof Khairul Munadi, the Indonesian education and cultural attaché, and representatives from the Indonesian Embassy in London.
The purpose of the visit was to showcase BGS’s research capabilities and learn more about Indonesia’s science, technology and development priorities. We began the discussions with an overview of BGS’s geological hazards research in Indonesia, which is partly funded by ongoing National Capability and UKRI research programmes. These research projects encompass hazard and risk from earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions and urban subsidence.

BGS has extensive working experience on natural hazards research in Indonesia, including hazard communication (left) and hazard modelling (right). BGS © UKRI.
Following this session, we had had a long and detailed discussion on BGS’s critical minerals research with a specific emphasis on nickel, for which Indonesia is the largest global supplier. Dr Desra Percaya, the Indonesian Ambassador to the UK, joined us remotely for these discussions. Topics included the global supply of mineral resources, an introduction to the UK Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre hosted at the BGS, and examples of ongoing BGS projects on mineral resource research around the world.

We had detailed discussions on the international mineral resource research being done at BGS. BGS © UKRI.
We followed this session with discussions on geothermal energy, which is an abundant resource in Indonesia and of critical importance for the country’s decarbonisation and sustainable development goals. Indonesia is soon to overtake the USA as the largest producer of geothermal energy in the world.
Throughout the day we discussed pathways and opportunities to expand on BGS/Indonesia scientific partnerships, strengthen bi-lateral engagements and promote UK science and technology expertise.
We very much welcome this new stage in our relationship with the Indonesian Embassy and look forward to future engagements.

Our visitors were given a tour of the BGS Core Store, part of the National Geoscience Data Centre by BGS’s Dr Mike Howe. BGS © UKRI.
Relative topics
Related news

Kamchatka earthquake highlights the advances in tsunami early warning systems
31/07/2025
The response to the 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Russia has emphasised how far scientific understanding of tsunamis has come over the last two decades, and the improved mitigation measures that are now in place.

New journal article reveals snapshot of forever chemicals in shallow English soils
31/07/2025
Data on the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance concentrations in English soils has been released.

BGS hosts India for ‘deep dive’ on carbon capture and storage
30/07/2025
Some of India’s top scientists visited BGS to explore the UK’s carbon dioxide storage research potential.

Zambia’s first critical minerals guide supports the country’s potential in global clean energy transition
18/07/2025
A new guide to Zambia’s critical minerals highlights the country’s current and potential critical mineral resources, including cobalt and lithium.

Funding awarded to UK/Canadian critical mineral research projects
08/07/2025
BGS is part of a groundbreaking science partnership aiming to improve critical minerals mining and supply chains.

Release of over 500 Scottish abandoned-mine plans
24/06/2025
The historical plans cover non-coal mines that were abandoned pre-1980 and are available through BGS’s plans viewer.

New collaboration aims to improve availability of real-time hazard impact data
19/06/2025
BGS has signed a memorandum of understanding with FloodTags to collaborate on the use of large language models to improve real-time monitoring of geological hazards and their impacts.

Goldilocks zones: ‘geological super regions’ set to drive annual £40 billion investment in jobs and economic growth
10/06/2025
Eight UK regions identified as ‘just right’ in terms of geological conditions to drive the country’s net zero energy ambitions.

UK Minerals Yearbook 2024 released
21/05/2025
The annual publication provides essential information about the production, consumption and trade of UK minerals up to 2024.

BGS scientists join international expedition off the coast of New England
20/05/2025
Latest IODP research project investigates freshened water under the ocean floor.

Latest mineral production statistics for 2019 to 2023 released
28/04/2025
More than 70 mineral commodities have been captured in the newly published volume of World Mineral Production.

Geology sans frontières
24/04/2025
Geology doesn’t stop at international borders, so BGS is working with neighbouring geological surveys and research institutes to solve common problems with the geology they share.