Month: July 2025

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto inaugurated the laying of the first stone or groundbreaking of the largest electric vehicle (EV) battery ecosystem project in Asia, in Karawang, West Java, today, Sunday (6/29/2025). The largest EV battery industry project in Asia has a total investment from upstream to downstream reaching US$ 5.9 billion, equivalent to IDR 96.04 trillion (assuming an exchange rate of IDR 16,278 per US$). The project is operated by PT Aneka Tambang (Antam), PT Indonesia Battery Corporation (IBC), and a Chinese company, Ningbo Contemporary Brunp Lygend Co. Ltd. (CBL), which is a joint venture between CATL, Brunp and Lygend.

In this inauguration, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto stated that this groundbreaking has historical and strategic value. Therefore, he took the time to attend it. In fact, the ideals of downstreaming have been around for a long time, namely from the first President of the Republic of Indonesia, Soekarno, to the 7th President, Joko Widodo, who actually started the program.

“This groundbreaking is proof of the seriousness of our leaders in collaborating with our partners and our friends in China. We can work together with a program that I think can be said to be colossal, it can be said to be an extraordinary breakthrough,” explained Prabowo.

The Largest Integrated Battery Industry Project in Asia. The project consists of a total of six joint ventures (Joint Ventures/JVs) ranging from upstream to downstream projects. In detail, JVs one to three are battery ecosystems on the upstream side. Meanwhile, JVs four to six are battery ecosystems on the downstream side.

Upstream:

JV 1: Nickel mining project of PT Sumberdaya Arindo (SDA) with a production capacity of 7.8 million wet metric tons (wmt) of saprolite nickel and 6 million wmt of limonite, a total of 13.8 million wmt with a share ownership portion of PT Antam of 51% and CBL of 49%. This project has started production since 2023. JV 2: Rotary Kiln Electric Furnace (RKEF) nickel refining and processing facility (smelter) project of PT Feni Haltim (FHT) with a capacity of 88 thousand tons of refined nickel alloy per year with a share ownership portion of CBL of 60% and PT Antam of 40%. This project is targeted to start production in 2027. JV 3: High Pressure Acid Leaching (HPAL) nickel refining and processing facility project (HPAL JVCO) PT Nickel Cobalt Halmahera (HPAL JVCO) with a capacity of 55 thousand tons of MHP per year with a share ownership portion of CBL 70% and PT Antam 30%. This project is targeted to start production in 2028.

Downstream:

JV 4: Battery material project that will produce cathode materials, cobalt sulfate, and ternary precursors with a capacity of 30 thousand tons of Li-hydroxide located in East Halmahera, North Maluku with a share ownership portion of CBL 70% and PT IBC 30%. This project is targeted to start production in 2028. JV 5: Battery cell project PT Contemporary Amperex Technology Indonesia Battery (CATIB) located in Artha Industrial Hill (AIH) & Karawang New Industry City (KNIC). This project is divided into phase 1 with a capacity of 6.9 GWh/year and phase 2 with a capacity of 8.1 GWh/year, a total capacity of 15 GWh/year. Meanwhile, CBL’s share ownership portion is 70% and PT IBC’s is 30%. This project is targeted to start production in 2026 for phase 1, and in 2028 for phase 2. JV 6: The battery recycling project is located in East Halmahera, North Maluku with a capacity of 20 thousand tons of metal/year with CBL’s share ownership portion of 60% and PT IBC’s is 40%. This project is targeted for 2031. Specifically for JV 5, phase 1 of the Li-ion battery cell project is targeted to start operating completely by the end of 2026. Meanwhile, in the second phase of the JV 5 project, which will later operate with a capacity of up to 15 GWh/year, it is targeted to operate in 2028.

June 29, 2025, CNBC Indonesia(https://www.cnbcindonesia.com/news/20250629145258-4-644692/prabowo-resmikan-proyek-baterai-ev-ri-rp9604-triliun-ini-pemiliknya)

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto met with Malaysian Prime Minister (PM) Anwar Ibrahim at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Friday (6/27/2025). The meeting resulted in a number of important agreements, ranging from accelerating bilateral cooperation to handling strategic issues such as borders and joint regional development. The meeting was attended by a number of high-ranking Indonesian officials, including Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sugiono, Minister of Defense Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, Minister of Investment Rosan Roeslani, and Minister of Communication and Digital Meutya Hafid.

Similar Countries and Establishing Strategic Partnerships. Prabowo said that the meeting between himself and PM Anwar discussed, among other things, bilateral issues between the two countries, as well as ASEAN regional issues, and global issues. The two leaders also agreed to accelerate cooperation in various strategic sectors, ranging from economy, trade, science, education, to culture. One of the crucial issues discussed was the resolution of border issues where both countries have a strong commitment to resolving the issue in order to strengthen friendship and cooperation.

Support Palestinian Independence and a Peaceful Solution to the Middle East Conflict. Prabowo said that Indonesia and Malaysia have the same view on the importance of a peaceful resolution in the conflict area. Both countries also agreed to fully support Palestinian independence.

“Regarding Palestine, we continue to support Palestinian independence. Only a two-state solution can end the conflict. Indonesia and Malaysia see the need for global collective efforts to encourage peaceful resolution of conflicts,” said Prabowo.

On the other hand, Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim also emphasized the importance of ASEAN’s role and bilateral cooperation in facing various global challenges. He expressed his appreciation for Indonesia’s leadership in the region, including in responding to conflicts in the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

“In dealing with, for example, tariff issues and issues of restraints on international relations, our strengths are domestic strength, bilateral strength, and ASEAN strength. And we must foster this with the spirit that exists among the leaders,” said PM Anwar.

Resolve Border Issues and Regional Collaboration. Border issues are also one of the main focuses of the meeting between the two countries. RI-Malaysia are committed to resolving border issues peacefully and quickly in order to strengthen bilateral relations. Anwar said that resolving maritime and border issues would open up opportunities for broader regional collaboration, including within the ASEAN framework.

Solution for Ambalat. Specifically, for the Ambalat region, Indonesia and Malaysia have agreed to implement a joint development approach as a short-term solution while waiting for legal settlement.

“For example, the Ambalat problem, we agreed that while we resolve legal issues, we want to start with economic cooperation that we call joint development. Whatever we find at sea, we will exploit it together,” Prabowo explained. Meanwhile, Anwar supports this approach, emphasizing that economic cooperation does not need to be delayed by a long legal process.

Maximize Trade & Investment Potential. In addition, RI-Malaysia agree that the trade and investment potential between Indonesia and Malaysia has not been optimally developed. “Our investment and trade potential is very large, but it has not been maximized. This is detrimental considering our close relationship,” Anwar said.

To that end, they are committed to taking concrete steps to increase economic cooperation, including in the trade, investment, education, and cultural sectors.

June 27, 2025, CNBC Indonesia

(https://www.cnbcindonesia.com/news/20250627204818-4-644491/5-poin-penting-pertemuan-prabowo-dan-pm-malaysia-anwar-ibrahim)

President Prabowo Subianto inaugurated the Bali International Hospital (BIH) in Sanur, Denpasar. The hospital with international standard facilities is managed by PT Pertamina Bina Medika Indonesia Healthcare Corporation (IHC), a subsidiary of Pertamina. The inauguration of BIH is part of the first phase of the development of the Sanur Special Economic Zone (KEK). Prabowo emphasized the importance of superior health facilities in Indonesia as a large and dynamic country.

“Indonesia is a large, dynamic country, and must have the best facilities. We must become a service center, able to accept patients from Southeast Asia, the Pacific, and others,” said Prabowo in his statement, Thursday (6/26/2025).

Meanwhile, Pertamina President Director Simon Aloysius Mantiri stated that Pertamina through its subsidiary, Pertamina Bina Medika IHC, supports the government’s program in developing superior health facilities in the regions as a form of public health services.

“We encourage Pertamina Bina Medika IHC to present a world-class hospital so that the Indonesian people can enjoy modern health facilities with a comfortable environment,” he said.

On the other hand, the President Director of IHC, Major General TNI (Ret.) Dr. dr. Lukman Ma’ruf, said that BIH presents international quality services to the place closest to the heart, namely Bali.

“This is where the latest medical technology, global expertise, and world standards meet with local tranquility and wisdom. We believe that the Indonesian people deserve the best care without having to go far. In Bali, healing will now feel closer, more enjoyable, and more meaningful,” he explained.

BIH is built on an area of ​​67,465 m², with a capacity of 255 beds. BIH also has centers of excellence (Centers of Excellence) in the fields of Cardiology, Oncology, Neurology, Gastroenterology & Hepatology, and Orthopedic (CONGO). BIH is also supported by strategic partnerships with global institutions, such as SingHealth (Singapore), Icon Cancer Center (Australia), Sapporo Cardiovascular Clinic (Japan), and Innoquest (Singapore).

“All services will run with the support of a team of trained specialists and the latest diagnostic and therapeutic technology,” added Dr. Lukman.

The inauguration of BIH was attended by a number of Ministers of the Red and White Cabinet, President Commissioner of PT Pertamina (Persero) Mochamad Iriawan, President Director of PT Pertamina (Persero) Simon Aloysius Mantiri, President Director of PT Pertamina Bina Medika IHC, Major General TNI (Ret.) Dr. dr. Lukman Ma’ruf, and President Director of BIH dr. Dewi F. Fitriana.

Pertamina as a leading company in the field of energy transition is committed to supporting the 2060 net zero emission target by continuing to encourage programs that have a direct impact on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). All of these efforts are in line with the implementation of Environmental, Social, & Governance (ESG) across all of Pertamina’s business lines and operations.

June 26, 2025, detikFinance

(https://finance.detik.com/infrastruktur/d-7982972/prabowo-resmikan-bali-international-hospital-hadirkan-fasilitas-kelas-dunia)

The Ministry of Industry is trying to maintain the availability of industrial salt to support production activities in the pulp and paper industry sector. Through this effort, it is hoped that the performance of the pulp and paper industry will increasingly contribute significantly to the national economy. The Director General of Agro Industry of the Ministry of Industry, Putu Juli Ardika explained that industrial salt is used in Chlor-Alkali CAP to produce chlorine, sodium hydroxide (NaOH), and hydrogen through the electrolysis process of salt solutions.

“These basic chemical products are an important part of the bleaching process, breaking down wood fibers, controlling pH, to the formation of final products in the pulp and paper industry,” said Putu in his statement in Jakarta, Thursday (26/6).

Based on February 2025 data, the pulp and paper industry in Indonesia recorded an export value of US$ 8.09 billion or IDR 131.05 trillion (exchange rate of IDR 16,200. In detail, the pulp industry contributed US$ 3.56 billion, while the paper industry reached US$ 4.44 billion.

“This positive performance also contributes to the provision of employment, with direct employment of 288 thousand people and indirect employment of around 1.2 million people,” he said.

On a separate occasion, the Indonesian Pulp and Paper Association (APKI) conveyed the need for government support to fulfill industrial salt which is very important for the pulp and paper industry. APKI hopes that the government can facilitate these needs in order to support the sustainability and growth of the industry.

“Industrial salt is not just an auxiliary material, but a vital component in the production process in the pulp and paper sector. This need cannot be fully met domestically because of the very strict technical specifications,” said APKI Deputy Chairman Irsyal Yasman.

Furthermore, Irsyal said, on average The industrial salt requirement for the pulp and paper industry is 760 thousand tons per year with an average specification of a minimum sodium chloride content of 97%, a maximum water content of 2.5%, a maximum calcium of 0.045%, and a maximum magnesium of 0.026%.

“Unfortunately, currently domestic supply has not been able to meet these needs consistently, both in terms of quality and quantity,” he said.

June 26, 2025, detikFinance(https://finance.detik.com/berita-ekonomi-bisnis/d-7982950/ekspor-produk-pulp-paper-ri-tembus-rp-131-triliun)