Business · Economy · 1 day ago
Indonesia launches 11 nickel-processing projects worth $10.2 billion
Indonesia has launched four nickel-related projects and started construction on seven more at the Indonesia Weda Bay Industrial Park in North Maluku.
The 11 projects have a combined investment value of $10.2 billion.
They cover materials and components for electric vehicle batteries, aluminium, electric heavy vehicles and solar energy.
The government also marked Indonesia’s first export of electric vehicle batteries.
The projects are part of a push to process more natural resources within Indonesia and build up domestic industry.
The industrial park has attracted $15 billion in investment and employed more than 100,000 people as of June 2025, including contractor workers.
The government says it wants to diversify products, strengthen domestic supply chains and coordinate policies to sustain investment and extend economic benefits to local communities.
Indonesia launched 11 nickel-processing projects worth US$10.2 billion at the Indonesia Weda Bay Industrial Park in North Maluku.
The projects comprise four industrial projects entering commercialisation and seven new projects beginning construction.
The projects cover battery materials and components, aluminium, electric heavy vehicles and photovoltaic glass.
President Prabowo Subianto also marked the first export of electric vehicle batteries.
The government says downstream processing is intended to increase the value of natural resources, strengthen industry, attract investment and create jobs.
- Who
- President Prabowo Subianto launched the projects, accompanied by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto.
- What
- Indonesia launched 11 nickel-processing projects worth US$10.2 billion, including four projects entering commercialisation and seven new projects.
- When
- Thursday, October 8, 2026.
- Where
- Indonesia Weda Bay Industrial Park, Central Halmahera, North Maluku, Indonesia.
- Why
- The government says the projects aim to increase the value of natural resources, strengthen domestic industry, attract investment and create jobs.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Today, we will launch the first export of electric vehicle batteries. Then, we will also launch 11 downstream projects, consisting of the commercialisation of 4 industrial projects and the start of construction of 7 new industrial projects in this area, the Indonesia Weda Bay Industrial Park.
Downstream processing is not only aimed at increasing the value of natural resources, but also at strengthening the national industrial structure, attracting investment, and creating jobs. Therefore, policy coordination from upstream to downstream is important to maintain investment sustainability while ensuring that the economic benefits can be felt by the public.
Construction began at the Indonesia Weda Bay Industrial Park.
Investment realised at the park had reached US$15 billion, and employment exceeded 100,000 people, including contractors.
Prabowo launched the 11 projects at the park and marked Indonesia’s first export of electric vehicle batteries.
- Total projects
- 11
- Investment value
- US$10.2 billion, or about Rp180 trillion
- Project breakdown
- 4 projects entering commercialisation; 7 new projects starting construction
- Location
- Indonesia Weda Bay Industrial Park, Central Halmahera, North Maluku
- Park investment by June 2025
- US$15 billion
- Workers by June 2025
- More than 100,000, including contractors











