Mining industry players in Indonesia are encouraged not only to focus on raw ore extraction activities but also to start mastering downstream technologies such as battery manufacturing. This strategic step is considered crucial for Indonesia to independently build an electric vehicle ecosystem and break free from dependency on imported finished products.
The call was delivered by the founder of the National Battery Research Institute (NBRI), Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Evvy Kartini, M.Sc., during the 8th Series of Training to Miners (TTM) APNI organized by the Indonesian Nickel Miners Association (APNI) in Jakarta. In the forum, Prof. Evvy dismissed the assumption that battery technology is highly complex and difficult to develop domestically.
According to the physics expert, famous for her discovery of glass-based superionic conductors, the basic understanding of battery manufacturing can actually be learned in a short time. The NBRI research institute she leads has even trained more than a thousand participants from various major corporate backgrounds, such as PLN, Pertamina, Astra, and Toyota. The training covers theory to hands-on practice in battery pack manufacturing and electric motorcycle conversion.
In addition to education, NBRI is also active in providing technical assistance to resolve operational obstacles in large-scale battery plants. One tangible contribution shared by Evvy was resolving a power supply disruption at a 10 GWh capacity battery factory, which successfully saved the industry from potential losses of hundreds of thousands of US dollars.
On the other hand, Evvy also highlighted the importance of regulatory readiness, especially regarding the management of used electric vehicle battery waste through the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme. She emphasized that regulations for the recall of end-of-life batteries must be formulated immediately to prevent future environmental issues.
Concluding her presentation, she remains optimistic that mastering science and technology is the key for Indonesia to have sovereignty over its own natural resources. Close collaboration among stakeholders is believed to be capable of making Indonesia a major player in the global battery industry.
