Airlangga Follows Up On Investment Eramet Commitment In Downstreaming Nickel And Green Energy

Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto (Photo: dock. VOI)

JAKARTA - On the sidelines of a working visit in Paris, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto held a bilateral meeting with Eramet CEO Christel Bories, at the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia (KBRI) Paris.

Eramet is one of the main investors in the mining sector and the downstream nickel industry.

In addition, Eramet has several times conveyed its commitment to the Indonesian government to support industrial downstreaming through investment in the development of green manufacturing facilities to produce Electric Vehicle batteries, especially in Weda Bay, Central Halmahera.

Airlangga conveyed that the Indonesian government welcomed the proposal to support the acceleration of the energy transition in Indonesia.

"To ensure the commitment of the green industry, the location of the industry can later be placed close to hydro energy sources to ensure the use of environmentally friendly and sustainable energy," he said in his statement, Tuesday, March 4.

Airlangga's meeting with Eramet this time discussed the follow-up to Eramet's investment plan.

Christel Bories said that currently Eramet still needs information regarding the availability of raw materials needed for the implementation of production in Indonesia.

As a follow-up, Airlangga and Christel Bories agreed on the need to form a roadmap and estimate production capacity.

This will be taken into consideration by the Indonesian government in providing support to Eramet as an effort to develop the nickel ecosystem in Indonesia.

In this bilateral meeting, Eramet expressed the desire to invest further in Indonesia with local partners in the critical minerals sector.

In addition, Eramet also wants to find investment opportunities, especially downstream, with the Anagata Nusantara Power Investment Management Agency (BPI Danantara).

Eramet also expressed its support for accelerating the completion of the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (I-EUCEPA) negotiations with European Comission, in the context of increasing investment and trade in Indonesia and the European Union, especially with France.

Airlangga reiterated that the joint commitment between Indonesia and Eramet can build a strong partnership in accelerating the transformation of Indonesia's green industry and supporting the global supply chain.

"Indonesia and Eramet's partnership has great potential to encourage innovation, strengthen the nickel and battery industries of electric vehicles, and provide long-term benefits for both parties," he said.