Airlangga Meets Hyundai CEO To Discuss Hydrogen Network Solutions And EV Development

Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto met with Hyundai Motor Group CEO Euisun Chung (Photo: Coordinating Ministry for the Economy)

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto met Hyundai Motor Group CEO Euisun Chung during a working visit in South Korea. In addition, he appreciated Hyundai's efforts to be actively involved in various hydrogen projects globally, starting from Indonesia with Waste-to-Hydrogen to utilizing local community waste.

"I appreciate Hyundai's efforts to actively implement the HTWO (H2) network solution. This will not only benefit Indonesia, but will also benefit the ASEAN market in the long term, because hydrogen can play an important role in encouraging carbon neutrality and economic development movements," Airlangga said in a press release, quoted Tuesday, May 21.

Airlangga said that to encourage the development of the Hyundai hydrogen project, it is planned to cooperate with BUMN, namely Pertamina.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian government is currently accelerating the development of electric vehicles (EVs) in Indonesia through the preparation of EV development roadmaps, providing various incentives, and developing the EV ecosystem in Indonesia.

"Hyundai is also one of the qualified electric car manufacturers, so we encourage Hyundai to provide capacity building for local MSMEs or Indonesian suppliers to control EV affairs," he said.

Airlangga added that not only cars, but machines, as well as derivatives such as charging stations and so that Hyundai can involve local suppliers in the area around the factory.

In addition to accelerating EV development, the Government is also encouraging the acceleration of the energy transition from fossils to environmentally friendly energy such as solar and geothermal energy, development of low-carbon technology and energy efficiency, as well as the development of other alternative energy sources, such as hydrogen development for vehicles.

The Indonesian government has also pushed for several agreements that have been made at the previous Joint Committee Meeting on Economic Cooperation (JCEC) supported by Hyundai, such as Hyundai Motor's investment in Indonesian electric vehicles, such as finished car manufacturers, combined battery cell factories, battery pack factories, and others.

Airlangga said that Hyundai is building a battery factory to produce electric vehicles equipped with Indonesian battery cells in 2024.

The construction of the battery cell factory was carried out in Karawang, West Java, and it is a joint venture with LG Energy Solution which will start commercial production in the third quarter of 2024.