"We will have our own research center. It seems that currently, Prof. Kartini (founder of the National Battery Research Institute) already has research like this, but we (the government) want to create a bigger research center in Morowali," Pandjaitan remarked in Jakarta, Monday.
The minister made the statement in a speech at the International Battery Summit on Monday.
Pandjaitan invited all related institutions to collaborate to be part of the development of the research center in Morowali.
The minister said the related institutions include various well-known universities in Indonesia.
"We are sending around 42 Indonesian youths to study in China, to obtain degrees in this industry and to be part of this research," he revealed.
Furthermore, several researchers from China were invited to Morowali to develop the EV battery research center.
Through the construction of the EV battery research center, Pandjaitan emphasized that this time, Indonesia is not sitting idly and just being a spectator to the development of an industry.
Pandjaitan affirmed that the research center will be a stepping stone for the electric vehicle industry, especially in Indonesia.
"Indonesia wants to play a vital role in this industry," Pandjaitan remarked.
Pandjaitan stated that Indonesia has also built an electric motorcycle and electric car battery recycling industry in Morowali.
According to the minister, recycling EV batteries is an important part of building a green industry.
Earlier, Chairman of the National Council for Special Economic Zones (KEK) Airlangga Hartarto remarked that the KEK in Morowali District, Central Sulawesi, was engaged in nickel downstreaming based on the green industry.
The KEK's investment target until fully operational is Rp135.38 trillion (about US$8.3 billion), and it will absorb around 136 thousand people in its workforce.
The KEK is engaged in the production and processing of nickel with the advantage of using Steam Gas Power Plants (PLTGU), Fully Enclosed Submerged Electric Furnace technology, and recycling of High-Pressure Acid Leaching (HPAL) tailing waste.
It also engaged in the downstreaming of nickel matte and mixed hydroxide precipitate (MHP) to become precursors for electric car batteries, as well as raw water supply with the construction of reservoirs and dams.
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Translator: Putu Indah Savitri, Cindy Frishanti Octavia
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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