Tesla Wants To Invest In Indonesia To Process Nickel

JAKARTA - Electric car manufacturer Tesla Inc plans to invest in Indonesia. The reason for this investment is called because Indonesia is one of the countries that has the largest nickel reserves in the world.

It is not certain when the investment plan with the car manufacturer from Palo Alto will be realized. This is because Indonesia still wants to process chemical raw materials from lithium batteries independently before being used in electric vehicles.

Quoting Reuters, Monday, October 5, Acting Deputy for Infrastructure and Transportation of the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Kemenkomarves), Ayodhia Kalake, said that if Tesla had submitted plans for investment interest in Indonesia. Including contacting the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan.

"It is still an initial discussion and is not yet detailed. We need further discussions with Tesla," said Ayodhia.

Ayodhia explained, local human resources (HR) in Indonesia need to be developed first before accepting investment. Moreover, Indonesia already has a number of incentives for the development of EV batteries.

"There must be a strong commitment to develop and utilize local workers, so that they can generate and develop economic effects in the surrounding areas," said Ayodhia.

Previously, Coordinating Minister for Marves, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, said that Tesla management had asked about Indonesia's nickel reserves.

"I said you put the investment here, today we give the reserves. So, if we are always now changing from commodity-base to downstream. So, our productions will see their downstream. That will turn Indonesia into a great country so it will enter. to the global supply chain, "explained Luhut.

It is known, Tesla really wants to increase truck production and solar power projects. Tesla CEO Elon Musk earlier this year urged miners to produce more nickel and offer long-term contracts if it is mined efficiently and in an environmentally friendly manner. Because, Musk claims that the EV battery is expected to help reduce global carbon emissions.

For information, last month the government secured an agreement to build a lithium battery factory in the country with LG Chem Ltd from South Korea and China Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd.