Enviro News Asia, Karawang – President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, accompanied by Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia, officiated the groundbreaking ceremony of the Integrated Electric Battery Industry Ecosystem by the ANTAM-IBC-CBL Consortium at the Artha Industrial Hills (AIH) area in Karawang Regency, West Java, on Sunday (June 29, 2025).
In his speech, President Prabowo expressed his belief that this groundbreaking marks a historic moment with strategic significance.
He emphasized that the key to a nation’s development lies in its ability to process natural resources into valuable materials.
The President also highlighted the importance of this groundbreaking as a monumental international collaboration, notably involving a partnership with China.
“We are partnering with our friends, our brothers from China. We are able to collaborate on a program that I believe is monumental—one could even say it is a tremendous breakthrough. From here, we can produce renewable and environmentally friendly energy, a global aspiration,” said the President in his official statement.
Meanwhile, ESDM Minister Bahlil Lahadalia underscored that all downstreaming projects must be equitable, in line with President Prabowo’s directive.
“I urge the companies involved to ensure that the benefits of downstreaming are not limited to investors and the central government. According to the President’s directive, downstreaming must be fair—fair to local businesses, fair to the community, and fair to regional governments,” Bahlil stated firmly.
Bahlil also conveyed that this project represents an initial step in fostering collaboration between resource-rich nations and countries with advanced technology and strong market access.
“Indonesia is indeed rich in battery materials—nickel, manganese, cobalt, and lithium. The only one we don’t have is lithium. We possess manganese, cobalt, and nickel. However, we still lack comprehensive technology. That’s why we are collaborating with our Chinese partners, especially CATL,” Bahlil explained.
The Integrated Electric Vehicle Battery Industry Ecosystem project consists of six main subprojects, five of which are being developed in the Feni Haltim (FHT) area in East Halmahera, North Maluku, and one in Karawang, West Java.
This project is part of the National Strategic Projects (PSN) initiative, with a total investment value of USD 5.9 billion. It spans 3,023 hectares, is expected to create 35,000 direct jobs, stimulate local economic growth, and includes 18 multifunctional port infrastructure projects. (*)
