Electric Vehicle Battery Industry Project Becomes A Political Tool For Erick Thohir To Advance In The 2024 Presidential Election?

JAKARTA - Commission VII of the House of Representatives (DPR) reminded that the battery industry project for electric vehicles should not be used only as a political tool in the upcoming presidential election in 2024.

Responding to this, the Special Staff of the Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Arya Sinulingga emphasized that the development of a pure EV battery is an energy transition in reducing global warming due to the effect of greenhouse gases. Moreover, since long ago there have been plans to establish a battery holding and production.

"So in fact, it is not related to politics at all. Because in 2023, it will already be produced. So this is a real project. It has nothing to do with politics", he said, during a Webinar entitled 'EV Battery: The Future of Indonesia's Economy' in Jakarta, Tuesday, February 2.

Arya emphasized that the purpose of developing electric batteries is for energy transition. In fact, he said, Indonesia has been recognized by the world as having the main raw material in developing the EV battery industry, namely nickel.

One of the State-Owned Enterprises, PT Antam has the second-largest nickel reserves in Indonesia which will play a role in providing nickel ore as raw material upstream to downstream for battery-based electric vehicles.

In fact, said Arya, this is what makes potential partners like Tesla want to cooperate with Indonesia in developing this industry.

"How could Tesla want to mess (with politics) like that", he explained.

Likewise, Deputy Minister of State-Owned Enterprises, Pahala Mansury emphasized that the battery-based electric vehicle project has nothing to do with political maneuvers for the 2024 presidential election. The business that the government is currently building is purely to take the opportunity to make Indonesia a world-class player in this industry.

"When it comes to politics, we don't have any thoughts of going there, we just want this opportunity not to be wasted", he said.

According to Pahala, many parties from abroad are always looking for Indonesia's weaknesses. Because they do not want Indonesia to become a strong country and dominate this strategic industry.

"These other countries always peek at strong countries that have the potential to dominate strategic industries", he said.

Pahala hopes that stakeholders and regulators will continue to work together in supporting the grand plan that has just started in Indonesia. Because in the world of technology it really needs investment and partnerships.

"In a world full of technology and full of investment needs, this partnership is inevitable, that's why we are working with world players", he said.

Must Be Carried On Seriously

Previously, the Deputy Chairman of Commission VII DPR RI Ramson Siagian said that the development of electric vehicles including the battery industry was very important. This is to reduce consumption and emissions from fuel oil (BBM), so as to reduce imports and be more environmentally friendly.

Ramson also asked that this program to be carried out seriously, not only for political rhetoric and consumption of public opinion.

In the Hearing Meeting (RDP) with the National EV Battery Project Acceleration Team, he asked the Head of the National EV Battery Project Acceleration Team, Agus Tjahajana Wirakusumah, to convey the message to the State-Owned Enterprises Minister, Erick Thohir.

"Not for the consumption of political rhetoric in facing 2024, but it must be facts for future generations. We have to be special in the interests of the nation's future. Tell the Minister of the State-Owned Enterprises, so that it can be truly concrete", explained Ramson, who was leading the meeting, Monday, February 1st.

Not only that, Ramson said that his party had also urged the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to issue policies to issue budgets that could encourage the development of electric vehicles.

Furthermore, he said, all resources for the development of EVs in Indonesia need to be mobilized, both in terms of technology, management capacity, and funding sources.

"Commission VII fully supports. In fact, we urge the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to support in terms of policy and budget if possible", he explained.