COO of Borneo Indobara Reveals Benefits of Using EVs in the Mining Sector
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Chief Operating Officer of PT Borneo Indobara (BIB), Raden Utoro, has revealed the benefits of using Electric Vehicles (EVs) in the mining sector. According to him, besides boosting productivity, the use of EVs in mining areas is more efficient compared to fossil fuel-based vehicles.
“Regulations remain the main issue. However, in our experience, once the infrastructure is prepared, EVs have no engine or transmission problems, only the batteries need cleaning, so maintenance costs are reduced and productivity increases,” he explained at the EV Transition in Mining Industry Outlook 2026 event with the theme “The Future of EVs in Mining Industry: Between Efficiency and High Investment” in Jakarta on Wednesday (29/4/2026).
Nevertheless, Utoro noted that many mining entrepreneurs have yet to switch to EVs due to the substantial initial investment required and unproven performance. According to him, entrepreneurs must certainly calculate the capital expenditure (capex).
“This capex is related to regulations and trust, unfortunately trust in EVs in the mining sector is not yet 100%. This industry is just starting to grow and financially, funding from banks is not yet accepted as it is for conventional vehicles,” Utoro detailed.
On the other hand, with the intensifying issue of global warming, the shift to EVs to reduce emissions is increasingly unavoidable. Utoro cited that at BIB, over several years after adopting EVs, the company succeeded in reducing emissions by up to 20%. Therefore, BIB has a target of zero emissions by 2028.
In terms of fuel usage, before using EVs, BIB burned 9 million tonnes annually, but with EVs, this can be reduced by up to 75% to just 1 million tonnes.
On the fuel cost side, Utoro also stated that with the rise in fuel oil (BBM) prices due to uncertain global conditions. Utoro detailed that the increase in BBM over the past 10 years has reached 600% in recent years. Looking ahead, even if the war ends, according to him, as long as mining entrepreneurs do not switch from BBM, it will become increasingly uneconomical.
“The use of EVs is like killing two birds with one stone, emissions are reduced and production costs at the same time,” Utoro asserted.
On the other hand, Utoro explained that the process of changing from conventional equipment to EVs is not instantaneous, especially in the migration process. However, BIB ensures clear standards, the latest equipment, and competitive prices.
He mentioned that ideally, charging takes less than one hour, even with the latest technology, only 20 minutes. In the future, according to Utoro, it will improve further with newer generations.