In brief
Indonesia completed a fully integrated nickel downstream chain, linking mining to finished EV battery cells. Three major plants now operate, and nickel exports have climbed dramatically, reaching nearly $26 billion in August 2026. The move is expected to add domestic value and strengthen the country’s position in the global EV battery supply chain.
Jakarta – At the opening of the 2026 Mineral and Coal Convention on Monday, Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Downstreaming and Energy Transition Bahlil Lahadalia declared that the country has built a fully integrated nickel downstream industry, turning raw nickel into finished electric‑vehicle battery cells at home.
Bahlil announced that three major battery production facilities are now operating: a plant at the Indonesia Weda Bay Industrial Park in Central Halmahera, the Hyundai LG Indonesia Green Power plant in Karawang that started operation in July 2024, and a joint‑venture facility between state‑owned Antam and global battery giant CATL which is set to be inaugurated by President Prabowo Subianto later this month.
Thank God, now Indonesia is one of the countries that has succeeded in building a downstream industry with an integrated car battery ecosystem from mining to battery cells.
He added that if Indonesia does not continue building downstreaming, the country will fail to create added value.
Official statistics show that nickel export values increased from US$3.3 billion in 2017 to US$40 billion by 2025, and that as of August 2026, the ministry’s Directorate General of Minerals and Coal recorded nickel exports reaching US$25.96 billion.
The government credits the rapid rise in export value and the added economic benefit to its aggressive push toward domestic processing. By keeping processing revenue inside Indonesia, the policy aims to boost the national economy and reduce dependence on foreign industrial capacity.
The integrated battery ecosystem positions Indonesia as a key player in the global electric‑vehicle supply chain, allowing it to capture more of the value chain than when it exported only raw nickel or nickel hydroxide.
