Philippines, Indonesian Nickel Miners Forge Cooperation Agreement

Why It Matters

By uniting the Philippines and Indonesia’s nickel sectors, the deal strengthens a key supply chain for electric‑vehicle batteries and renewable energy, attracting capital while raising ESG standards across Southeast Asia.

Key Takeaways

• PNIA and APNI formalize cross‑border nickel collaboration
• Five pillars focus on data, dialogue, learning, ESG, adaptability
• IndoPhil Nickel Corridor promoted as investment hub
• Aligns with ASEAN Sustainable Minerals Principles 2025
• Supports global energy transition and community benefits

Pulse Analysis

Nickel has become a strategic commodity as electric‑vehicle batteries and renewable‑energy storage systems surge worldwide. Southeast Asia, home to some of the largest lateritic nickel deposits, is poised to meet this demand, but investors remain wary of regulatory uncertainty and sustainability risks. The newly forged PNIA‑APNI partnership signals a coordinated regional approach, offering clearer policy signals and a shared framework that can de‑risk projects for multinational financiers and downstream manufacturers.

The agreement’s five pillars translate into concrete actions: joint data repositories will improve resource transparency; regular industry forums will harmonize standards; cross‑border training programs will upskill workers and embed ESG best practices; and a flexible governance model will allow the collaboration to evolve with market shifts. By institutionalising these mechanisms, the IndoPhil Nickel Corridor can present a unified investment proposition, showcasing consistent regulatory environments and a commitment to responsible mining—key criteria for ESG‑focused funds and sovereign wealth entities seeking long‑term returns.

Beyond immediate commercial benefits, the partnership reinforces ASEAN’s broader agenda of sustainable mineral development. By aligning with the 2025 ASEAN Principles, the corridor can serve as a blueprint for other critical minerals, fostering regional integration and reducing reliance on distant supply sources. As the global energy transition accelerates, a stable, responsibly managed nickel supply from the Philippines and Indonesia will be essential for meeting battery demand while delivering socioeconomic gains to local communities.

Philippines, Indonesian nickel miners forge cooperation agreement

Jasper Emmanuel Arcalas · The Philippine Star · February 17 2026 · 12:00 am

The Philippine Nickel Industry Association (PNIA) signed an agreement with Asosiasi Penambang Nikel Indonesia (APNI), the Indonesia Nickel Miners Association, that seeks to define a “shared” direction for both industries toward investment confidence, policy dialogue and responsible mining.

MANILA, Philippines — The country’s nickel miners have forged a partnership with their Indonesian counterparts to deepen cooperation across the nickel value chain amid a rise in demand for the critical mineral that is key to the global energy transition.

PNIA executive director Charmaine Olea‑Capili said the partnership is consistent with the ASEAN Principles for Sustainable Minerals Development, adopted by ASEAN ministers responsible for minerals development last October 2025.

The ASEAN principles recognize the critical role of minerals in supporting strategic sectors such as energy, mobility, infrastructure and the green and digital transitions.

“While this partnership was initiated by industry, we were deliberate in making sure our cooperation is anchored in and responsive to ASEAN’s direction,” Olea‑Capili said.

The agreement, Olea‑Capili explained, outlines five collaboration pillars:

1. Sharing data and policy perspectives;

2. Creating platforms for industry dialogue;

3. Facilitating industry learning and exposure;

4. Supporting capability, human capital and ESG development;

5. Ensuring cooperation remains adaptive as priorities evolve.

“These priorities send a clear signal to investors, governments and other stakeholders about where our industries are headed,” Olea‑Capili said.

“They show that APNI and PNIA are serious about building a nickel value chain in the IndoPhil Nickel Corridor that people can rely on to support the energy transition, deliver shared prosperity and earn long‑term trust,” Olea‑Capili added.

One of the immediate outcomes of the agreement is the promotion of the IndoPhil Nickel Corridor to position the two countries as important areas in the region for investment, policy coordination and global energy transition.

The two industry groups expect to implement the agreement through technical working meetings, stakeholder‑engagement rounds in Indonesia and the Philippines, reciprocal mine visits and joint learning sessions.

“We invite government partners, investors, communities and other stakeholders to work with us, because responsible nickel development has to support not just the global energy transition, but also deliver real benefits for communities on the ground, and APNI and PNIA are committed to listening and keeping this cooperation moving forward to build trust,” Olea‑Capili said.