Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Airlangga Hartarto, stated that French company Eramet has repeatedly expressed its commitment to supporting Indonesia’s downstream industrial development through green investments. 

The investment will be directed towards the development of a green manufacturing facility to produce electric vehicle batteries in Weda Bay, Central Halmahera. 

“To ensure the commitment to green industry, the industrial site in question can be located close to hydro-electric power sources to guarantee the use of environmentally friendly and sustainable energy,” said Airlangga in a written statement received on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. 

To follow up on the plan, Airlangga held a bilateral meeting with Eramet’s CEO, Christel Bories. During the meeting, Eramet said they will provide information regarding the raw materials required for production activities in Indonesia. 

Airlangga said the Indonesian government and Eramet’s CEO agreed on the need to draft a roadmap and production capacity estimate to guide Indonesia’s support for Eramet in their effort to develop the country’s nickel ecosystem. 

During the meeting, Airlangga also noted that Eramet expressed its intention to further invest in Indonesia with local partners, particularly in the critical minerals sector such as nickel. In addition, Eramet is also seeking investment opportunities in downstream processing in collaboration with Daya Anagata Nusantara Investment Management Agency, or BPI Danantara. 

Airlangga further stated that the joint commitment between Indonesia and Eramet can build a strong partnership to accelerate Indonesia’s green industrial transformation and support the global supply chains. 

“The partnership between Indonesia and Eramet holds significant potential to drive innovation, strengthen nickel and electric vehicle battery industries, and provide long-term benefits for both parties,” he said. 

This article is published in partnership with Katadata 

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