Development Of Battery Electric Vehicles Contributing To Absorb Thousands Of Workers

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Antara)

The Coordinating Ministry (Kemenko) for the Economy stated that the development of the electric vehicle (EV) battery industry in Indonesia is one of the priorities.

Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto said that this made the government continue to encourage efforts to downstream mining materials, including nickel, bauxite, copper.

"Through the National Strategic Project, the government supports the development of EV battery industry investments, especially for Lithium Battery Material Integrated Industrial Estates," he said in a press statement quoted Friday, June 16.

According to Airlangga, this development has attracted the attention of global investors to invest in Indonesia. One of the investors in the industry is Huayou Cobalt Co., Ltd.

Airlangga said that during these five years, investment from Huayou Cobalt Co., Ltd has been disbursed amounting to US$21.5 billion or around Rp320.9 trillion.

"The investment is distributed for 9 projects that absorb 52,000 workers," he said when receiving a visit from Huayou Cobalt officials in Jakarta.

At the meeting, Coordinating Minister Airlangga appreciated the realization of investment and commitment of the company from China.

which will increase its investment in the next five years by running green energy in the industrial process as an energy source.

"We welcome the technology that will be applied in Indonesia by this company because it uses more advanced technology than existing technology in China," he said.

In particular, Coordinating Minister Airlangga also advised the company to build downstream copper foils for the accelerated lithium battery layer.

Responding to this, Huayou Cobalt asked for the support of Coordinating Minister Airlangga for the development of industrial estates and hydropower development in order to realize environmentally friendly downstreaming.