Project title: Supply Chain Risk Management of Rare Earth Minerals in Indonesia: Implications for Renewable Energy Transitions
Eligibility: Indonesian nationals
Duration: Full-Time – between three and four years fixed term
Application deadline: 30 April 2026
Start date: September 2026
For further details contact: Associate Prof. Mirzam Abdurrachman and Prof. Benny Tjahjono
Introduction
The global transition towards renewable energy technologies has significantly increased demand for critical minerals, particularly rare earth elements such as neodymium (Nd), dysprosium (Dy), and praseodymium (Pr). These minerals are essential for manufacturing permanent magnets used in wind turbines, electric vehicle motors, and other clean energy technologies, making them central to the energy transition.
However, the global supply chains for these minerals are characterized by geographical concentration, trade restriction, technological barriers, geopolitical competition, and price volatility, creating significant vulnerabilities in the supply chains that could disrupt renewable energy deployment worldwide. While Indonesia is globally recognized for its dominance in nickel and other critical minerals, it also possesses rare earth deposits in regions such as Kalimantan, Sulawesi, and Bangka Belitung.
Despite this resource potential, Indonesia remains at an early stage of rare earth exploration and processing and still depends on imports of refined rare earth materials to support domestic industries. This creates a strategic duality: Indonesia is both 1) a potential upstream supplier of rare earth minerals, and 2) an emerging downstream consumer of rare earth-based technologies used in renewable energy systems.
Understanding Indonesia’s strategically important yet underexplored position in the global rare earth supply chain is therefore essential for addressing supply chain risks associated with the global energy transition.
Project details
Indonesia continues to strengthen its role in the global critical mineral economy through downstream industrialization policies aimed at increasing domestic value creation and reducing dependence on imported processed materials. Yet there remains limited research examining how Indonesia can position itself within the global rare earth value chain while managing supply chain vulnerabilities and supporting renewable energy development.
This research therefore aims to analyse supply chain risks associated with rare earth minerals in renewable energy technologies and evaluate Indonesia’s strategic position within the global rare earth supply chain.
Specifically, the research will:
1. Identify the rare earth minerals used in renewable energy technologies relevant to Indonesia and examine their role in technologies such as wind turbines, electric vehicles, and other clean/renewable energy systems.
2. Analyse the structure of global rare earth supply chains, including their geographical concentration and dependence on key producing countries such as China.
3. Evaluate supply chain risks that may affect Indonesia’s renewable energy deployment, focusing on key vulnerabilities arising from:
• geopolitical concentration of rare earth production and processing
• trade restrictions and geopolitical tensions
• environmental constraints related to extraction and processing
• technological dependency on external manufacturing capabilities.
4. Assess Indonesia’s dual role as both a potential supplier and consumer of rare earth materials and ultimately to strengthen its resilience within global rare earth supply chains.
5. Propose policy recommendations for the governance of rare earth resources to support the scalability of renewable energy systems in Indonesia.
Funding
Tuition fees and bursary from LPDP, PDDI or potentially ITB/CU
Benefits
The successful candidate will receive comprehensive research training including technical, personal, and professional skills. All researchers at Coventry University (from PhD to Professor) are part of the Doctoral and Researcher College, which provides support with high-quality training and career development activities.
Entry requirements
• A minimum of a 2:1 first degree in a relevant discipline/subject area with a minimum 60% mark in the project element or equivalent with a minimum 60% overall module average.
PLUS
• The potential to engage in innovative research and to complete the PhD within 3.5 years.
• A minimum of English language proficiency (IELTS academic overall minimum score of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each component).
Academic Requirements
Applicants should have a Master’s degree in a relevant field is desirable, including but not limited to:
• Industrial Engineering
• Operations Research
• Geology
• Logistics and Supply Chain Management
• Mathematics
Applicants should demonstrate:
• Skills in quantitative analysis (e.g., modelling and optimisation, statistics, econometrics, or panel data analysis)
• Strong interest in renewable energy transitions and industrialisation
• Ability to work with interdisciplinary research
• Strong analytical and writing skills
• Motivation to contribute to academic publications
Skills and experience in one of the following methods is desirable:
• Data analysis tools (e.g., R, Stata, Python, or NVivo)
• Qualitative research methods (e.g., case studies, interviews)