JAKARTA – Mining industry players in Indonesia are urged not to focus only on upstream activities such as mineral ore exploitation, but also to start mastering downstream technology, especially battery manufacturing. This strategic step is considered crucial for Indonesia to build a self-reliant electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem without continuously relying on imported products.
This call was delivered by the founder of the National Battery Research Institute (NBRI), Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Evvy Kartini, M.Sc., at the 8th Series of the Training to Miners (TTM) forum organized by the Indonesian Nickel Miners Association (APNI) at the Le Meridien Hotel, Jakarta. On that occasion, Prof. Evvy dismissed the public perception that battery manufacturing technology is too complex to learn.
According to the prominent physicist, basic understanding to the practice of battery making can actually be mastered in a short time through intensive training. NBRI itself has reportedly trained more than a thousand participants from various major corporations such as PLN, Pertamina, to automotive giants like Toyota and Astra. The training includes in-depth theory to hands-on practice of making battery cells, assembling battery packs, as well as electric motorcycle conversion techniques.
In addition to focusing on education, this independent research institute is also active in providing technical solutions for large-scale industries. Prof. Evvy cited an example of how her team helped perform computational analysis to resolve operational disruptions at a 10 GWh capacity battery factory, which successfully saved the industry from potential significant financial losses.
On the other hand, she also highlighted the importance of regulations regarding the recycling management of end-of-life electric vehicle batteries. Prof. Evvy urged the government to immediately implement the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme, which requires manufacturers to retrieve and reprocess used batteries to prevent future environmental problems.
In closing, she is optimistic that the wealth of natural resources, especially abundant nickel, will be a full strength for Indonesia if paired with the mastery of science and technology. Close collaboration among stakeholders is the key to bringing Indonesia as a key player in the global battery industry map.
