Latest news with #Halmahera
South China Morning Post
a day ago
- Automotive
- South China Morning Post
Indonesia's US$5.9 bn battery project sparks environmental concerns
Indonesia broke ground on Sunday 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 calculations, 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.
Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- 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
4 days ago
- 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
4 days ago
- 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.
Free Malaysia Today
05-06-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Indonesia allowing nickel industry abuses to go unchecked
Weda Bay on Halmahera island is the world's largest nickel mine by production. (AFP pic) JAKARTA : The Indonesian government is allowing environmental damage including deforestation and violations against Indigenous people to go unchecked around a multi-billion dollar industrial park on a once-pristine eastern island, a report said today. 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. Operations have grown around Weda Bay, the world's largest nickel mine by production, on Halmahera island as Indonesia exploits the metal reserves used in everything from electric vehicle batteries to stainless steel. Climate Rights International (CRI) said companies had caused a spike in air and water pollution and deforestation around the industrial park, accusing the government of ignoring their conduct. 'The Indonesian government is giving a green light to corporate practices that prioritise profits over the rights of local communities and the environment,' Krista Shennum, researcher at Climate Rights International, told AFP. 'The Indonesian government should immediately hold companies accountable. This could include civil penalties, criminal prosecutions, or rescinding permits.' Much of the park's nickel is sourced by Weda Bay Nickel (WBN), a joint venture of Indonesian mining firm Antam and Singapore-based Strand Minerals, with shares divided between French mining giant Eramet and Chinese steel major Tsingshan. An AFP report last week detailed how the home of the nomadic Hongana Manyawa tribe was being eaten away by the world's largest nickel mine, with members issuing a call for nickel companies to leave their tribal lands alone. Locals have reported a rise in air pollution from nickel processing smelters and rivers polluted by nickel tailings in soil brought down by heavy rain. Water tests by Indonesian NGOs AEER, JATAM, and Nexus3 Foundation in 2023 and 2024 'revealed dangerously high levels of nickel and hexavalent chromium, among other pollutants', the report said. '(Companies) are failing local communities by not making information about the safety of important drinking water sources publicly available and accessible,' said Shennum. Both WBN and Eramet told AFP last week they work to minimise impacts on the environment, including conducting water tests. CRI also said Indonesian and foreign companies in coordination with police and military personnel had 'engaged in land grabbing, coercion and intimidation' of Indigenous peoples and other communities. Local activists and students opposing the industrial park have 'faced criminalisation, harassment and smear campaigns', the report said. Weda Bay Nickel and the Indonesian government did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But Indonesia's energy ministry told AFP last week it was committed to 'protecting the rights of Indigenous peoples and ensuring that mining activities do not damage their lives and environment'.
