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The Star
29-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Star
Indonesia launches major EV battery project in West Java
JAKARTA, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on Sunday attended a groundbreaking ceremony for a major electric vehicle (EV) battery megaproject in Karawang, West Java. With a joint investment of nearly 6 billion U.S. dollars, the initiative will encompass nickel mining and processing, battery materials production, battery manufacturing, and recycling. Indonesia is currently the world's largest producer of nickel and holds the biggest-known reserves of the metal, an essential component in EV batteries. The project is a joint operation between Indonesia's state-owned miner PT Aneka Tambang (Antam), the state-owned investment holding company PT and Indonesia Battery Corporation (IBC), in collaboration with Chinese firm Ningbo Contemporary Brunp Lygend Co., Ltd. (CBL). "This groundbreaking is proof of our leaders' seriousness in collaborating with our partners and our friends in China. We can work together on a program that I think can be called colossal, an extraordinary breakthrough," Prabowo said in his speech. Indonesia's Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said that the project is expected to create 35,000 jobs and contribute up to 42 billion dollars annually to Indonesia's GDP. Bahlil noted that the plant will have the capacity to supply batteries for 300,000 vehicles, which would help reduce Indonesia's fuel imports by approximately 300,000 kiloliters per year. He added that the project aligned with Prabowo's vision for more equitable national development. While it was launching in Java, about three-quarters of the total investment is set to be directed to North Maluku province.


Free Malaysia Today
29-06-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Indonesia begins US$5.9bil EV battery project despite environmental fears
Halmahera island has seen environmental damage increase as operations have grown at a large industrial park. (AFP pic) JAKARTA : Indonesia broke ground today on a US$5.9 billion megaproject for EV battery production backed by Chinese giant CATL, despite NGOs raising concerns over a lack of environmental guarantees. Indonesia is the world's largest nickel producer and it is trying to capitalise on its vast reserves, with a 2020 export ban spurring a domestic industrial boom of the key metal used in EV batteries and stainless steel. The EV battery project will include a US$4.7 billion investment on the eastern island of Halmahera and a US$1.2 billion investment in West Java, energy minister Bahlil Lahadalia said in a speech alongside president Prabowo Subianto. 'According to my calculation, it won't take long, in probably between five to six years we will be able to reach energy self-sufficiency,' Prabowo said at a groundbreaking ceremony in Karawang, West Java. Bahlil said the Halmahera complex will focus on mining, smelting and production of cathodes which are a key component in rechargeable batteries. The West Java complex will focus on battery cell production, the minister said. The two politicians did not say when the megaproject was slated to be operational, but Indonesian officials have said a CATL plant in Halmahera would open in March next year. Alongside CATL, the Halmahera complex is backed by China's Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt and Indonesia's state-owned Antam. Climate Rights International and Greenpeace Indonesia this week issued a call for greater assurances from Jakarta that measures were in place to protect the surrounding environment at the bigger complex in eastern Halmahera. Environmental group Mining Advocacy Network (Jatam) said in a statement Saturday that Jakarta was 'chasing vague economic growth while consciously ignoring the people's scream' to end damage to the environment and residents' livelihoods. Halmahera, a once-pristine island in the Maluku archipelago, has seen environmental damage increase as operations have grown at a large industrial park that hosts the world's largest nickel mine. A CRI report this month warned the Indonesian government was allowing environmental damage to go unchecked around the Weda Bay mine and the industrial park that hosts it. An AFP report last month detailed how the home of the nomadic Hongana Manyawa tribe was being eaten away by mining operations there.

Al Arabiya
26-06-2025
- Business
- Al Arabiya
Environment fears over $6 billion Indonesia EV battery project: NGOs
Environmental groups raised concerns Thursday over a $6 billion Indonesian EV battery megaproject backed by Chinese giant CATL which is set to open on a once-pristine island, as Jakarta exploits its huge supply of nickel. Indonesia is both the world's largest nickel producer and home to the biggest-known reserves, and a 2020 export ban has spurred a domestic industrial boom. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto will inaugurate the project -- also backed by China's Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt and Indonesia's state-owned Antam -- in the east of Halmahera in Indonesia's Maluku islands on Sunday. The complex will encompass a process from nickel mining to production of cathodes, state news agency Antara reported. But NGOs say Indonesia and the Chinese firms involved have not given assurances about environmental protections at the site, located just kilometers from a huge industrial park where spikes in pollution and deforestation have been reported. 'CATL, Huayou Cobalt, PT Antam... must commit to respecting the rights of local communities and the environment before breaking ground,' said Brad Adams, executive director at Climate Rights International, in a statement. 'Communities are repressed, forests are cleared, and pollution goes unaddressed with impunity. This is a chance for the Prabowo government to show that it has learned from those failures.' The presidential office did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment. Halmahera hosts the world's largest nickel mine by production Weda Bay, where operations have grown and sparked reports of widespread environmental damage. Greenpeace Indonesia said the new project carried 'great responsibilities' and the environment and locals 'must not take a back seat' to powering electric vehicles. 'If the environment and the rights of our most vulnerable people are not prioritized now... we will all pay a high price through worsening biodiversity and climate crises,' Arie Rompas, forest campaign team leader at Greenpeace, told AFP. A CRI report this month warned the Indonesian government was allowing environmental damage to go unchecked around Weda Bay. An AFP report last month detailed how the home of the nomadic Hongana Manyawa tribe was being eaten away by the mine.


Arab News
26-06-2025
- Business
- Arab News
NGOs: Environment fears over $6 bn Indonesia EV battery project
JAKARTA: Environmental groups raised concerns Thursday over a $6 billion Indonesian EV battery megaproject backed by Chinese giant CATL which is set to open on a once-pristine island, as Jakarta exploits its huge supply of nickel. Indonesia is both the world's largest nickel producer and home to the biggest-known reserves, and a 2020 export ban has spurred a domestic industrial boom. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto will inaugurate the project — also backed by China's Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt and Indonesia's state-owned Antam — in the east of Halmahera in Indonesia's Maluku islands on Sunday. The complex will encompass a process from nickel mining to production of cathodes, state news agency Antara reported. But NGOs say Indonesia and the Chinese firms involved have not given assurances about environmental protections at the site, located just kilometers from a huge industrial park where spikes in pollution and deforestation have been reported. 'CATL, Huayou Cobalt, PT Antam... must commit to respecting the rights of local communities and the environment before breaking ground,' said Brad Adams, executive director at Climate Rights International, in a statement. 'Communities are repressed, forests are cleared, and pollution goes unaddressed with impunity. This is a chance for the Prabowo government to show that it has learned from those failures.' The presidential office did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment. Halmahera hosts the world's largest nickel mine by production Weda Bay, where operations have grown and sparked reports of widespread environmental damage. Greenpeace Indonesia said the new project carried 'great responsibilities' and the environment and locals 'must not take a back seat' to powering electric vehicles. 'If the environment and the rights of our most vulnerable people are not prioritized now... we will all pay a high price through worsening biodiversity and climate crises,' Arie Rompas, forest campaign team leader at Greenpeace, told AFP. A CRI report this month warned the Indonesian government was allowing environmental damage to go unchecked around Weda Bay. An AFP report last month detailed how the home of the nomadic Hongana Manyawa tribe was being eaten away by the mine.


France 24
26-06-2025
- Business
- France 24
Environment fears over $6 bn Indonesia EV battery project: NGOs
Indonesia is both the world's largest nickel producer and home to the biggest-known reserves, and a 2020 export ban has spurred a domestic industrial boom. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto will inaugurate the project -- also backed by China's Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt and Indonesia's state-owned Antam -- in the east of Halmahera in Indonesia's Maluku islands on Sunday. The complex will encompass a process from nickel mining to production of cathodes, state news agency Antara reported. But NGOs say Indonesia and the Chinese firms involved have not given assurances about environmental protections at the site, located just kilometres from a huge industrial park where spikes in pollution and deforestation have been reported. "CATL, Huayou Cobalt, PT Antam... must commit to respecting the rights of local communities and the environment before breaking ground," said Brad Adams, executive director at Climate Rights International, in a statement. "Communities are repressed, forests are cleared, and pollution goes unaddressed with impunity. This is a chance for the Prabowo government to show that it has learned from those failures." The presidential office did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment. Halmahera hosts the world's largest nickel mine by production Weda Bay, where operations have grown and sparked reports of widespread environmental damage. Greenpeace Indonesia said the new project carried "great responsibilities" and the environment and locals "must not take a back seat" to powering electric vehicles. "If the environment and the rights of our most vulnerable people are not prioritised now... we will all pay a high price through worsening biodiversity and climate crises," Arie Rompas, forest campaign team leader at Greenpeace, told AFP. A CRI report this month warned the Indonesian government was allowing environmental damage to go unchecked around Weda Bay.