Indonesia To Build Largest Green Industrial Park, Producing EV Batteries

TheIndonesia.id - Indonesia is building a green industrial park to produce batteries for Electric Vehicles (EV) in Bulungan, North Kalimantan, which is claimed to be the world's largest green industrial park in the world, Presiden Joko "Jokowi" Dodo said. 

The Kalimantan Industrial Park Indonesia (KIPI) will be powered by green and renewable energy. It includes hydropower from Mentarang and Kayan rivers in North Kalimantan, even though the transition to green energy will take time. 

"This is the largest green industrial park in the world. This is Indonesia's future," Jokowi said when he toured the project site.

The area will develop industries such as electric vehicle batteries, as Indonesia advances with its downstream policy and bans exporting the unprocessed ores of key minerals. The president added that there would also be petrochemical and aluminum industries at KIPI.

According to Jokowi, green energy, coupled with the "green products" that the park will make grants KIPI a competitive power. It would also make KIPI attractive to investors, particularly those related to green products. 

"If everything goes well, everyone will surely flock here. Any industry related to green products will look at this area," Jokowi said.

Jokowi told reporters that he would continue to keep an eye on the progress, so the project remains on schedule. "There are no issues on site. All permits are complete and ready," the president said. 

Indonesia seems to be making some progress in its dream of becoming a major EV battery producer. 

Aside from KIPI, the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) not long ago inked a memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Western Australian government. MoU was an exploring partnership in critical minerals for battery and EV industries. 

Australia is the world's biggest lithium supplier. Indonesia is also the largest nickel producer in the world. Both minerals are a mainstay for EV batteries. 

According to Kadin chairman Arsjad Rasjid, the deal could pave the way toward the goal of becoming a major EV industry player.