DIGIVESTASI - Minister of Investment and Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), Rosan Roeslani, revealed the reason why Tesla canceled its investment in Indonesia. In a meeting with members of Commission VI of the House of Representatives (DPR RI), Rosan openly stated that the company owned by Elon Musk abandoned its investment intention because the green industry ecosystem in Indonesia was considered not ready. “One of the reasons they are diverting investment is because, as an electric car manufacturer, Tesla wants the whole process to be clean. However, if they enter an industrial area in Indonesia that still relies on energy from fossil fuels such as coal, it is not in accordance with their vision,” Rosan said at the Parliament Building, Jakarta, Tuesday (3/9/2024).

Rosan also explained that Indonesia is still far behind other countries in Southeast Asia, such as Vietnam. He pointed out that in Vietnam, around 60% of its industrial estates already use clean energy sources. “We, sorry, are still lagging behind. For example, a company in Singapore, Sembcorp, already has 13 solar cells in Vietnam's industrial estate and will add up to 18 in the next 2-3 months,” he added.

According to Bisnis records, Tesla's plan to invest in Indonesia has been conveyed several times by the government. The news about Tesla's investment surfaced after President Joko Widodo spoke with Elon Musk over the phone in December 2020. At the end of January 2021, the then Minister of Investment, Bahlil Lahadalia, claimed that Tesla would soon sign an investment contract in Indonesia that year, although he did not mention when it would be realized. Although Tesla ultimately canceled investing in Indonesia, Elon Musk remains committed to long-term cooperation with Indonesia. “I am confident that my other companies will invest in Indonesia in the long term. Thank you,” Elon Musk told Jokowi during the 10th World Water Forum Summit on Monday (5/20/2024).