Bahlil Reveals CATL Investment Plan in Battery Project Rp 97 Trillion (6 billion USD)
Verda Nano Setiawan, CNBC Indonesia
23 May 2025 14:32
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia revealed that the company from China is Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL) will spend its investment of US $ 6 billion or around Rp 97.87 trillion (assuming the exchange rate of Rp 16,313 per US). In particular, in working on the electric vehicle battery ecosystem project in Indonesia.
According to Bahlil, the project will include a supply chain ranging from nickel mines, nickel processing and smelter (smelter) facilities with High Pressure Acid Leaching (HPAL), precursor factories, cathodes, battery cells, to recycling facilities (
Recycling) battery.
For the upstream sector, the Indonesian side through PT Aneka Tambang Tbk (Antam) will hold a share of 51%, the rest owned by CATL.
"This is the world's first battery ecosystem, from upstream, from mines, HPAL, nickel, precursors, cathodes, cell batteries, to recycling. It's never been in the world. It's the first time. CATL is an investment of 6 billion dollars in total, "said Bahlil was met at the ESDM Ministry Building, Jakarta, Friday (23/05/2025).
While in the intermediate and downstream sectors, through joint venture schemes or Joint Ventures (JV) 2, 3, and 4, SOEs will have a share of "only" 30%, the rest is owned by CATL.
Bahlil also said, later Danantara will enter the battery ecosystem project with this CATL.
"Since it has been taken over, SOEs have now changed everything, the assets are under the Danantara, automatically entered there. Yes, if he wants to invest, his equity he has to chip in. That means," Bahlil said.
Previously, BPI CEO Danantara Rosan Roeslani said, the portion of Danantara in this project is to help in terms if there are funding constraints.
"Since there is Dan Antara this, our funding is helpful because we see the work of this project is very good in terms of return, work, as well as the impact of the economy," he said.
As is known, there are two mega-projects in the development of an electric vehicle battery ecosystem. Namely the Titan project whose consortium was filled by PT Indonesia Battery Corporation (IBC) as the parent company, PT Aneka Tambang (Antam), PT Pertamina, and PT PLN, and Huayou who replaced LG.
In addition, there is also a consortium with CATL through its subsidiary Ningbo Contemporary Burnp Legend Co. Ltd. called the Dragon project. Both projects focus on the chain of making electric batteries in Indonesia from upstream to downstream.
CATL recalculates investment
As is known, initially the value of CATL investment in Indonesia was worth US $ 1.2 billion, to develop the production of cell batteries with a capacity of 15 Giga Watt Hour (GWH).
However, in the middle of the road, based on the ODI (Overseas Direct Investment) Approval, his investment is currently only half or about 6.9 GWH or US $ 417 million.
Deputy Promotion of the Ministry of Investment and Downstream Nurul Ichwan revealed that CATL is evaluating the project in order to invest in Indonesia. The calculation of the value of the investment is known based on the dynamics that occur, where the demand for electric cars continues to grow.
"Then it will make a lot of sense to try to analyze again the global capacity that can then CAT contributes to what is the size of. So that once he analyzes, oh this has not reached that large capacity, so it is given the capacity below that. Well because the previous one at a certain level was lowered to half,
this is what will then have to be recalculated, "he explained found in his office, Jakarta, Wednesday (23/4/2025).
Nurul Ichwan continued, that the phase of recalculating CATL investment in Indonesia covers up to the calculation of the payback period of the project to be built. "Well the information, this count is promising as well, so it's more likely that this project will still take place," he added.
Although it is not certain what the calculation is, Nurul said the process of investing in giant electric vehicles from China in Indonesia will continue.
"So it's worth understanding that the tone remains positive. The one yesterday became a concern is because it was for example 1 million to 500 thousand, this example number is not the actual number, there must be adjustments. Just so adapted, it's normal so far to the public, well like this. No, mediocre, just adjust to the production capacity," he said.
As previously known, Indonesia Battery Corporation (IBC) is opening that the investment disbursed by Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd (CATL) in the new cell battery project in Indonesia is half the promised investment value of US $ 1.2 billion.
“But from the ODI (Overseas Direct Investment) Approval, which we have obtained from them is currently only half. So about 6.9 GWH or US $ 417 million, "said IBC President Director, Toto Nugroho in the RDP with Commission XII of the House of Representatives, Monday (17/2/2025).
Therefore, it is continuing communication to negotiate to find solutions related to the difference in the amount of investment from the CATL.
"There is one thing we need to report that long stop date, so the term our deal must be completed on February 28, which is very close. And this we need a lot of documents that they must complete, so that we get certainty about the investment, "explained Toto.
The IBC also requested that there be certainty of an off-pay agreement from CATL. In which, CATL should also submit a draft of the Bankable Feasibility Study on January 21, 2025.
"Well, but back some information related to the details of the document is still very much needed. So broadly speaking that's what we can say for that cell battery itself. Recycle later we will discuss sir, but because this process can only be done in the year 2028, "he said.
Perusahaan China CATL bakal menggelontorkan investasinya sebesar US$ 6 miliar atau sekitar Rp 97,87 triliun.
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