Karawang Artha Industrial Hill, Karawang, July 2, 2025 – A strategic step in strengthening Indonesia’s electric vehicle industry was marked by the Groundbreaking Ceremony of the Integrated Electric Vehicle Battery Industry Ecosystem, held on Sunday, June 29, 2025, at Artha Industrial Hill, Karawang, West Java. This prestigious event was personally attended by the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Mr. Prabowo Subianto, as a demonstration of the government’s full support for downstream industrialization and national energy resilience.

This project is part of the National Strategic Project (PSN) and the result of collaboration within the CATIB (Contemporary Amperex Technology Indonesia Battery) framework, a major initiative between Indonesian and Chinese companies to establish a comprehensive electric vehicle supply chain. Its strategic designation makes it not only economically significant but also a vital national asset in the energy and strategic resource sector.

The development is led by a strategic consortium consisting of Indonesia Battery Corporation (IBC), PT Aneka Tambang Tbk (Antam), and leading Chinese electric vehicle battery companies: Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL), Brunp, and Lygend—together under Ningbo Contemporary Brunp Lygend Co. Ltd (CBL). The Karawang project is one of six initiated by the consortium, with the remaining five located in East Halmahera, North Maluku.

In his speech, President Prabowo Subianto expressed his pride in the commencement of this strategic project, emphasizing the importance of downstream processing as a fundamental step toward national independence and prosperity. He also stated that this groundbreaking proves the seriousness of leadership and partnerships, describing the program as a remarkable and monumental breakthrough. (Kompas)

“I am very happy and proud of this event. I realize how historic and strategically valuable this moment is,” said President Prabowo.

He further emphasized that the key to a nation’s development lies in its ability to process natural resources into high-value products. According to him, downstreaming is a long-standing aspiration dating back to President Soekarno’s era, and Indonesia is now beginning to realize it concretely.

The event took place at Karawang Artha Industrial Hill (Tempo), an integrated industrial estate that hosts strategic investments in the renewable energy sector. Karwang Artha Industrial Hill’s involvement in this project reinforces its role as a key partner in accelerating industrial downstreaming, especially by providing strategic land for processing natural resources into value-added products.

The symbolic ceremony was led by President Prabowo, marked by pressing the siren button and operating an excavator to signal the start of the battery facility’s construction.

Also present was the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources and Head of the National Task Force for Downstream Acceleration and Energy Resilience, Mr. Bahlil Lahadalia, who reported that the project had gone through a four-year journey involving stakeholders including ANTAM, IBC, CBL, and CATL.

The event was also joined virtually by representatives from East Halmahera, where five other downstreaming projects in the national EV battery ecosystem are located. The North Maluku Provincial Government and local communities also expressed their support for the program’s success.

“We from East Halmahera, North Maluku, are fully committed to supporting this downstreaming ecosystem. The future is not just about advanced technology, but also about hearts that care and hands that work to ensure that everyone progresses together,” said the Governor of North Maluku in his virtual address.

With this event, Indonesia reaffirms its concrete steps toward a sustainable energy future.