Hub of power: An aerial view of the prospective site of South-East Asia’s largest battery industry project in Karawang, West Java. — AFP
Despite NGOs raising concerns over a lack of environmental guarantees, Indonesia broke ground on a US$5.9bil (RM24.8bil) megaproject for EV battery production backed by Chinese giant CATL.
Indonesia is the world’s largest nickel producer and it is trying to capitalise on its vast reserves, with a 2020 export ban spurring a domestic industrial boom of the key metal used in EV batteries and stainless steel.
