Electric Vehicles Boom, Battery Downstreaming Becomes Antam's Future
Indonesia is currently intensifying efforts to build an integrated electric vehicle (EV) battery factory ecosystem as part of its downstreaming strategy to increase value-added production. This initiative is bolstered by the nation’s vast reserves of nickel, the primary raw material for battery components.
One such integrated upstream-to-downstream battery ecosystem project is being developed by PT Aneka Tambang (ANTAM), Indonesia Battery Corporation (IBC), and the Chinese firm Ningbo Contemporary Brunp Lygend Co. Ltd. (CBL), a joint venture involving CATL, Brunp, and Lygend. The project was previously listed as a National Strategic Project (PSN) with an investment value reaching US$5.9 billion, or approximately Rp105.25 trillion.
The project comprises a total of six joint ventures (JV) spanning from upstream to downstream operations. Specifically, JVs one through three focus on the upstream battery ecosystem, while JVs four through six cover the downstream battery ecosystem.
President Prabowo previously performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the project at the Artha Industrial Hills (AIH) area in Karawang, West Java. Prabowo described the integrated battery project as a crucial step in driving the downstreaming of Indonesia’s natural resources, particularly nickel, which serves as the essential raw material for EV batteries.
The government also estimates that this project will absorb approximately 8,000 direct workers and stimulate economic growth in the surrounding regions through the development of supporting infrastructure, including industrial estates and multi-purpose piers.
Meanwhile, the President Director of ANTAM, Untung Budiharto, explained that the company is committed to undertaking special mandates from the government to accelerate the nickel downstreaming programme and the development of the national EV battery ecosystem.
“Through various integrated strategic projects, ANTAM is not only increasing value-added but also supporting the strengthening of national industrial independence and Indonesia’s position in the global industrial supply chain,” he stated on Wednesday.
The mandate includes the development of an integrated nickel-based battery ecosystem from upstream to downstream, encompassing mining activities, the construction of RKEF/RKSBF plants, HPAL facilities, refineries, precursors, cathodes, battery cells, and battery recycling facilities.
The development of this ecosystem is expected to increase the value-added of national mineral resources, expand the Company’s revenue streams, strengthen long-term business resilience, and support sustainable growth.
Throughout 2025, ANTAM’s nickel ore production reached 16.11 million wet metric tons (wmt), a 62% increase compared to the FY24 production of 9.94 million wmt. In terms of marketing, nickel ore sales were recorded at 14.58 million wmt, growing by 75% compared to the 8.35 million wmt recorded in 2024.
Driven by rising domestic demand, 2025 marks the highest production and sales performance for ANTAM’s nickel ore in over a decade, since the implementation of the mineral export ban.
As for ferronickel products, amidst domestic regulatory dynamics throughout 2025, ANTAM maintained operational stability, recording a production of 16,064 tonnes of nickel in ferronickel (TNi), with a sales volume of 10,528 TNi.