The President of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, officially inaugurated the groundbreaking ceremony for the development of Asia's largest electric vehicle (EV) battery ecosystem, located in Karawang, West Java, on Sunday, June 29, 2025.

This major EV battery industrial project, considered the largest in Asia, involves a total investment covering upstream to downstream operations worth US$ 5.9 billion or approximately IDR 96.04 trillion, based on an assumed exchange rate of IDR 16,278 per US dollar.

Who owns the project? The initiative is jointly operated by PT Aneka Tambang (Antam), PT Indonesia Battery Corporation (IBC), and the Chinese company Ningbo Contemporary Brunp Lygend Co. Ltd. (CBL), which is a joint venture formed by CATL, Brunp, and Lygend.

During the inauguration, President Prabowo emphasized that this groundbreaking holds significant historical and strategic value. That is why he made time to attend the event in person.

According to Prabowo, the vision of industrial downstreaming in Indonesia dates back to the first President Soekarno and was concretely implemented under the administration of the 7th President, Joko Widodo (Jokowi). “This downstreaming project began four years ago, which shows the major role of President Jokowi. I always stress the importance of honoring those who came before us and made contributions,” said Prabowo.

He further stated that this groundbreaking is a testament to Indonesia's leadership commitment and collaboration with partners from China. He described the project as both monumental and a significant breakthrough.

The Largest Integrated Battery Industry Project in Asia

This development involves six joint ventures (JV) covering both upstream and downstream sectors of the battery supply chain.

Upstream Sector:

• JV 1: The nickel mining project under PT Sumberdaya Arindo (SDA), with a production capacity of 7.8 million wet metric tons (wmt) of saprolite and 6 million wmt of limonite (totaling 13.8 million wmt). PT Antam holds 51% of the shares, while CBL owns 49%. Production began in 2023.

• JV 2: The RKEF-type nickel smelter project managed by PT Feni Haltim (FHT), with a capacity of 88,000 tons of refined nickel alloy per year. Share ownership: CBL 60%, PT Antam 40%. Production is targeted to start in 2027.

• JV 3: The HPAL-type nickel smelter project by PT Nickel Cobalt Halmahera (HPAL JVCO), with an annual production capacity of 55,000 tons of Mixed Hydroxide Precipitate (MHP). CBL holds 70%, and PT Antam owns 30%. The project is expected to commence operations in 2028.

Downstream Sector:

• JV 4: A battery materials facility producing cathode, cobalt sulfate, and ternary precursor materials with a capacity of 30,000 tons of lithium hydroxide, located in East Halmahera, North Maluku. CBL holds 70% of shares, and PT IBC holds 30%. Production is expected to start in 2028.

• JV 5: A battery cell production facility operated by PT Contemporary Amperex Technology Indonesia Battery (CATIB), located in Artha Industrial Hill (AIH) and Karawang New Industry City (KNIC). The project includes two phases: Phase 1 with a 6.9 GWh/year capacity and Phase 2 with an 8.1 GWh/year capacity, totaling 15 GWh/year. Ownership: CBL 70%, PT IBC 30%. Phase 1 is scheduled to begin operations by late 2026, and Phase 2 by 2028.

• JV 6: A battery recycling plant in East Halmahera, North Maluku, with a processing capacity of 20,000 tons of metal annually. CBL holds 60% of shares, and PT IBC holds 40%. The facility is targeted to commence operations in 2031.

Specifically for JV 5, the first phase of the lithium-ion battery cell project is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2026. Meanwhile, the second phase, with a capacity of up to 15 GWh per year, is set to begin in 2028.