Indonesia says China's CATL plans to invest $5 billion in lithium battery plant

On 15th Dec, Tuesday, at the coordinating ministry of maritime and investment affairs, the deputy minister of Indonesia said, "China's Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) is planning to invest $5 billion in a lithium battery plant in Indonesia." The production by the plant will start in 2024.

The primary target is that CATL will invest around $5 billion in Indonesia, and the first production of batteries can be done in 2024. The minister said, "CATL has signed an agreement with Indonesian state miner PT Aneka Tambang which requires CATL to ensure 60% of nickel be processed into batteries in Indonesia. "We don't want them to get out nickel but then process it abroad", he said.

Indonesia aims to start processing the rich supplies of nickel laterite ore for the use in lithium batteries as part of a bid to eventually become a global hub for producing and exporting electric vehicles (EVs).

Indonesia's Investment Coordinating Board said in June that LG Chem was considering a $9.8 billion investment in an electric vehicle battery factory integrated with a smelter.

Last week, the Indonesian government said US automaker Tesla will send a delegation to Indonesia next month to discuss potential investment in a supply chain for its electric vehicles.

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