Australian Firm to Invest US$350 Million in Batang Special Economic Zone Factory
SEMARANG, Joglo Jateng – Central Java has proven itself still to be a magnet for foreign investment. This was evident after the Australian company Pure Battery Technologies (PBT) committed to investing around US$350 million in the Industropolis Batang Special Economic Zone (KEK).
The investment, in the precursor cathode active material (PCAM) production sector, is projected to absorb around 1,000 workers, with large-scale employment targeted during the construction phase.
The factory is scheduled to begin construction in 2027.
PBT Chairman Stephen Wilmot said his company is currently working on the engineering stage as preparation for the plant’s physical construction.
“We hope to begin construction next year,” he said during an audience with Central Java Governor Ahmad Luthfi in Semarang on Monday (3/8/2026).
Once operational, the factory is estimated to require around 200 permanent workers. That figure does not include labour in supporting sectors such as logistics, transport and shipping.
Wilmot stressed that PBT will prioritise local workers. The company will also provide education and training so that local communities acquire the skills needed by the battery industry.
“We do not want to bring in workers from other countries. We want to train local people so they can work in our factory,” he said.
According to Wilmot, the Central Java project is the largest investment PBT has ever made. The plant is estimated to be more than four times the size of the company’s refining facility in Germany.
The factory is projected to generate revenue of around US$900 million per year, although this will depend on developments in global nickel prices.
PBT plans to use nickel raw materials from Indonesia in order to build a comprehensive battery industry value chain.
The material produced can be used for bus batteries, cars, and energy storage systems on electricity grids.
“We want to build the entire electric vehicle value chain, including the management of batteries that have reached the end of their life,” Wilmot explained.
“We want to carry out recycling to ensure that no environmental problems arise,” he continued.
He said PBT could in fact have built the plant near nickel mines, but the company chose Central Java for its strategic location and large population.