Erick Thohir Talks of $5bn EV Battery Project in China

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian State Owned Enterprisers (SOEs) Minister Erick Thohir and the Chinese counterparts discussed several agreements in China. One of them is the development of electric vehicle battery (EV battery) project valued at $5 billion investment.

"We want to assure that the partnership can run on time, or be accelerated if possible," said Erick in a video conference with Trade Minister Muhammad Lutfi and Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi on Friday, April 2.

The EV battery project is run by the consortium of Indonesia and China's SOEs. The Indonesian firms include Pertamina, State Electricity Company (PLN), Aneka Tambang, and Indonesia Asahan Aluminium. Meanwhile from China, there is Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd (CATL).

The press conference was held in China following the meeting of the three Indonesian ministers and the Chinese officials. The total of 14 meetings talked about several issues, namely: geopolitics,
Covid-19 vaccine partnership, investment, and crews ships' protection.

Erick Thohir, during the meeting, also conveyed Indonesia's commitment in this project. But he has yet to explain if CATL was involved in the meeting on EV battery project. The minister only said that the meeting was held with China's SOE Ministry.

In the discussions, Indonesia and China agreed to increase partnership in bureaucracy reform, as well as the projects that could improve value chains of both countries. 

Read: Tesla, Panasonic among Indonesia's Potential Partners for EV Battery Development

FAJAR PEBRIANTO