Jokowi Inaugurates Lithium Battery Anode Material Factory in Kendal

President Joko Widodo. (Photo: YouTube screenshot)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has just inaugurated a lithium battery anode material factory in the Kendal Special Economic Zone (KEK), Central Java. The factory has a production capacity of 80,000 tons per year.

The investment value of the first phase of the anode factory that has been realized is 478 million US dollars or equivalent to IDR 7.7 trillion (assuming an exchange rate of IDR 16,129 per US dollar).

"This morning, I inaugurated the lithium battery anode factory of PT Indonesia BTR New Energy Material in Kendal Regency, Central Java Province, Indonesia," said Jokowi as quoted from the Presidential Secretariat YouTube channel, Wednesday, August 7.

Jokowi also appreciated the speed of PT Indonesia BTR Energy Material in building the factory. This is because the factory was built within 10 months since the investment was signed.

"I really appreciate the speed of this factory construction. It was only 10 months ago that we signed in Beijing, and suddenly the factory was finished. This is what is called speed and a fast country will beat a slow country. And now we have become a fast country," he said.

The former Governor of DKI Jakarta said that 80,000 tons of lithium battery anode material produced by PT Indonesia BTR Energy Material could be used to make 1.5 million electric cars.

"I am very happy that PT BRT can produce 80,000 tons of anode material per year, which if used for cars will be used for 1.5 million electric cars. It is very big," he said.

For your information, PT Indonesia BRT Energy Material itself is currently building phase II of an anode factory with a capacity of 80,000 tons per year. If phase II is completed, the total production of anode material from this BTR factory could reach 160,000 tons per year.

Jokowi said that if PT BTR's production is increased by another 80,000 tons, it can produce 3 million electric cars. He said this number is very large, and Indonesia can become the largest supplier for EV batteries and electric vehicles.

"Moreover, if we add 80,000 tons of production in this industry. It will be 3 million electric cars per year. A large number so that we will become the largest supplier of both EV batteries and electric vehicles," he said.