Indonesia’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Bahlil Lahadalia, expressed confidence that Indonesia will become a key player in the global electric vehicle (EV) industry due to its abundant natural resources. Speaking at the Repnas National Conference & Awarding Night in Jakarta, Bahlil highlighted Indonesia's comparative advantage, particularly in nickel reserves. In 2023, U.S. Geological data indicated that Indonesia holds 20% of the world's nickel reserves, a figure which was later revised to 40-45%. Nickel is a crucial component in the production of EV batteries, which are essential for the global transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Bahlil emphasized that 60% of electric vehicle materials are related to the car itself, while 40% consist of the battery, made up of four key components: manganese, cobalt, lithium, and nickel. Indonesia holds significant reserves of nickel, manganese, and cobalt, but lacks lithium.

Bahlil further stated that Indonesia's large reserves position the country as a strategic player in the global supply chain for EVs and green technology. To strengthen this position, Indonesia has banned nickel ore exports, though this has led to international pressure to reconsider the policy. Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, stressed that Indonesia's growing influence will soon be recognized globally, particularly with the establishment of a lithium battery anode plant in Central Java. This development is expected to significantly increase Indonesia’s downstream exports and challenge China’s dominance in the market.

Source: https://www.antaranews.com/berita/4397545/bahlil-industri-mobil-listrik-dunia-bergantung-pada-ri