BKPM Partners with Pure Battery Technologies to Build pCAM Industry, Completing Supply Chain
The commitment was discussed during a meeting between Deputy Minister for Investment and Downstreaming/Wakil Kepala BKPM Todotua Pasaribu, Pure Battery Technologies Chairman Stephen Wilmot, and Indonesia Investment Promotion Centre (IIPC) Sydney Director Leidy Surianingrat at the IIPC office in Sydney, Australia. Pure Battery Technologies presented its plan to develop a precursor cathode active material (pCAM) industry using Mixed Hydroxide Precipitate (MHP) supplied from domestic High Pressure Acid Leach (HPAL) facilities, with the long-term goal of building a pCAM production facility in Indonesia. The planned investment value is approximately USD 350 million.
Wamen Todotua stated that Indonesia already possesses HPAL facilities and will soon have battery cell manufacturing, leaving pCAM and cathode production as the missing links in the supply chain. He emphasised that this investment is crucial for completing the national battery industry ecosystem, from nickel, MHP, pCAM, and cathodes to battery cells, thereby strengthening Indonesia’s competitiveness as a hub for the electric vehicle ecosystem. The investment addresses a gap in the midstream supply chain and aims to optimise the added value that has not yet been captured domestically.
The battery precursor stage is currently an undeveloped link in Indonesia’s nickel industry chain and represents one of the highest points of value creation, where the value of material increases significantly from MHP to battery precursor. By developing the pCAM industry domestically, the government expects this added value to be enjoyed within Indonesia rather than abroad. IIPC Sydney Director Leidy Surianingrat confirmed the office’s commitment to facilitating the investment process, including coordination with strategic partners and connecting the company with relevant government stakeholders. Both parties also continued discussions regarding the establishment of Pure Battery Technologies’ legal entity in Indonesia, options for the production facility location, financing schemes, and strategic partnership opportunities in the mining and nickel processing sectors.