Indonesia Minister Reveals Elon Musk Considering Offer to Build EV Battery Plant in the Country
Elon Musk is considering an offer to build an EV battery plant in Indonesia. President Widodo also urged Musk to invest in an AI center and build a SpaceX launchpad in the country. Indonesia has been actively trying to attract Tesla and other EV manufacturers to leverage its rich nickel resources.
This revelation came after a meeting between Musk, the CEO of Tesla, and President Joko Widodo on Monday.
Although Musk was not immediately available for comment, Minister Luhut Pandjaitan shared the news with reporters, stating, "We made an offer, is it possible to build an EV battery plant here, precursor cathode. And he will consider it." This indicates that Musk is open to exploring the opportunity further.
During their meeting, President Widodo also urged Musk to consider investing in an artificial intelligence (AI) center in Indonesia and to build a launchpad for SpaceX on Biak island in the Papua province. It's worth noting that the government has previously extended this offer to SpaceX.
Indonesia has been actively trying to attract Tesla and other EV manufacturers to establish manufacturing plants in the country, leveraging its abundant nickel resources. The government aims to develop its EV sector and capitalise on its natural resources.
Interestingly, just a day before the meeting, Musk launched SpaceX's satellite internet service, Starlink, specifically targeting the health sector in Indonesia. While Starlink is now commercially available, the government plans to prioritise its services in remote and underdeveloped regions.
SpaceX's Starlink currently dominates the satellite internet sphere, with ownership of approximately 60% of the 7,500 satellites orbiting the Earth. This positions SpaceX as a key player in expanding internet connectivity globally.
Elon Musk is considering an offer to build an EV battery plant in Indonesia.
President Widodo also urged Musk to invest in an AI center and build a SpaceX launchpad in the country.
Indonesia has been actively trying to attract Tesla and other EV manufacturers to leverage its rich nickel resources.
Source: REUTERS