Jakarta, ThedailyID — President Prabowo Subianto launched 11 nickel downstreaming projects and Indonesia’s first electric vehicle battery export on Thursday, October 8.
The projects are located in the Weda Bay Industrial Area in Central Halmahera, North Maluku. Together, they have a reported investment value of US$10.2 billion, or around Rp180 trillion.
“By saying Bismillahirrahmanirrahim, today I, President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto, launch the first export of electric vehicle batteries and four industrial projects entering the commercial stage,” Prabowo said on Thursday, October 8.
Prabowo described the groundbreaking ceremony as a major step for Indonesia. He also expressed confidence that the projects would help strengthen the country’s economy in the future.
“Our downstreaming strategy is right, and we will continue it as well as possible,” Prabowo said.
He also credited previous administrations for laying the groundwork for Indonesia’s industrial development. Prabowo said the country should respect leaders who had taken similar development steps before his administration.
Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya separately confirmed the total investment value. He said the US$10.2 billion program includes the first EV battery export and 11 industrial projects.
“Early this morning, President Prabowo Subianto departed for Central Halmahera, North Maluku, to launch the US$10.2 billion or around Rp180 trillion downstreaming program,” Teddy said in a statement on Thursday.
The projects form part of Indonesia’s broader push to process raw materials domestically. The government has promoted downstreaming as a strategy to increase the value of Indonesia’s natural resources.
The ceremony also marked the commercial launch of four industrial projects. However, the source did not provide details on the specific projects or their individual investment values.
Prabowo traveled to North Maluku with Coordinating Minister for Downstreaming and Energy Transition and Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia.
Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Sugiono also accompanied him. State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi and Housing and Settlement Areas Minister Maruarar Sirait were also present.
The launch highlights the growing role of nickel and EV-related industries in Indonesia’s downstreaming strategy. The government is seeking to develop more processing and manufacturing capacity within the country.
