Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan is targeting Africa as a market for electric vehicle (EV) batteries, aiming to expand Indonesia's EV industry. "The population in Africa will double by 2045. This will be a huge market," Luhut stated during his speech at the International Battery Summit in Jakarta on Monday. Therefore, Indonesia is actively inviting African countries to collaborate. To build this cooperation, Luhut mentioned his visit to Africa to discuss the EV industry. "They see Indonesia as a country that can assist them with electric vehicles," he said. In September, Luhut plans to discuss further cooperation in the EV sector with African countries at the Indonesia-Africa Forum. "We will be delighted to build collaborations with them, especially Kenya and South Africa," he said.
Luhut explained that Indonesia already has various collaborations with African countries. One example is the partnership between Pertamina and Kenya, as well as potential electricity cooperation with PLN. "Pertamina and PLN in South Africa are already engaged, and we are also inviting the World Bank to collaborate with Africa," Luhut added. Additionally, Agus Tjahajana Wirakusumah, Special Staff to the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources for the Acceleration of ESDM Sector Industrial Development, stated that Africa has better cobalt potential compared to Indonesia. "Although we have cobalt, it is not as abundant as in Africa, as our cobalt is attached to nickel," said Agus. Therefore, Agus noted that besides targeting Africa as an EV battery market, cooperation with African countries could also leverage their cobalt potential. "If this (cobalt potential) can be collaborated on," he said.
