PT Pertamina (Persero) is ready to develop an Electric Vehicle (EV) battery ecosystem by optimizing domestic nickel resources. Nickel is one of the raw materials for making EV batteries.
Main Director of Pertamina Nicke Widyawati believes that her party can produce batteries and increase the penetration of electric vehicles. This is because Indonesia's nickel reserves are quite promising.
"We are confident that with nickel reserves in Indonesia, we can produce batteries and increase EV penetration," he said at the World Economic Forum, in Davos, Switzerland, as reported by Pertamina's official website, Monday (23/1).
According to him, Pertamina has infrastructure that can be optimized for the entry of electric vehicles, and has segmentation data on characteristics, mobility and purchasing power.
Apart from that, Pertamina also has more than 7,400 gas stations, 6,100 Pertashops, and 63,000 LPG outlets. Pertamina is also ready to collaborate with other parties from various countries to develop EV batteries and optimize its infrastructure.
Nicke said that this commitment is in line with the recommendations put forward by the B20 Energy, Sustainability and Climate Task Force (B20-TF ESC), one of which is accelerating ecosystem development.
"We propose several policy recommendations and policy actions, especially how to accelerate EV penetration in each country," he said.
Nicke revealed that the policy recommendations include accelerating the use of sustainable energy, ensuring a fair and affordable transition, and increasing energy security.
To accelerate the use of sustainable energy, he said, Pertamina is targeting energy efficiency, with electrification being a critical success factor.
"There are demand-side energy efficiency targets, how to manage demand-side energy efficiency, and we believe electrification is a key success factor," he said.
In addition, Nicke also highlighted the need for financing, especially from developed countries, considering that the energy transition to renewable energy requires a very large capital investment.
The second policy recommendation is the need to ensure a fair and affordable transition. In this recommendation, Nicke highlighted the need to prepare for an equitable transition from the sectors affected by the energy transition to related sectors.
He said it was necessary to ensure sustainable practices in accessing minerals to build new energy infrastructure that is clean and low carbon, including electric vehicles.
Then, the third recommendation is the need to increase energy security.
"We need frameworks and regulations such as incentives to promote and accelerate the EV ecosystem," said Nicke.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Investment/Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Bahlil Lahadalia said the development of the EV ecosystem in Indonesia had started by involving foreign companies and BUMN, including Pertamina.
At least four companies have investment plans in Indonesia to support EV development, including LG, CATL, Foxconn and BritishVolt.
According to Bahlil, the government welcomes serious investors coming to Indonesia by providing easy licensing facilities and tax incentives.
