Science and Technology News

Germany Wants to Build an Electric Car Battery Raw Material Factory in RI

 Trade relations between the Republic of Indonesia and the countries of the Eastern European region continue to experience significant developments. Various signings of cooperation, as well as efforts to find new markets, continue to be made to increase the value of trade between Indonesia and Eastern European countries, especially Bulgaria. Followed by China, Germany Builds an Electric Car Battery Raw Material Factory in Indonesia The world's largest chemical company and producer from Germany, BASF will build a raw material factory for electric car batteries in Indonesia. That was said by the Minister of Investment / Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Bahlil Lahadalia from the results of a direct meeting with BASF The meeting was held to follow up BASF's investment interest in the nickel and cobalt hydrometallurgical smelter/refining industry which produces electric vehicle battery raw materials. We will fully support BASF's investment plan. Regarding licensing and investment incentives, we will take care of it. We will continue to monitor it until it is done," Bahlil, said in a written statement quoted by FMM, Sunday (10/10/2021). He explained that BASF plans to cooperate with Eramet, a French mining company. for the development of electric vehicles, including the construction of High-Pressure Acid Leaching (HPAL) and Base Metal Refinery (BMR) factories. The HPAL factory will be built in Central Halmahera, North Maluku with a production capacity of around 42,000 metric tons of nickel/year and around 5,000 metric tons of cobalt/year. Bahlil, continued, BASF's investment plan is in line with the Indonesian government's focus on realizing industrial downstream. In this case, he requested that BASF's investment not only stop in the nickel refining industry but also in the final product in the form of electric battery components. Member of the Board of Executive Director of BASF, Markus Kamieth hopes that the Ministry of Investment/BKPM can encourage independent industrial estates in proportionally supplying electricity from renewable energy. reached US$ 1,143 million, occupying the 16th position among other investment countries. Bahlil, previously said that the electric car battery factory that Indonesia was working on with a Chinese company, Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL) is planned to be built this year, following the factory built by PT HKML Battery Indonesia, which had its groundbreaking first on Wednesday, September 15. "While our CATL is still in the process, please pray, God willing, this year we can also start the groundbreaking," Bahlil, said in a virtual press conference, Friday, September 17, 2021. CATL invested in Indonesia worth US$ 5.1 billion or equivalent to Rp. 72.4 trillion (exchange rate of Rp. 14,200). The company has signed a contract with Indonesia which, based on has been carried out at the end of 2020.

 XL Axiata in Bali Launches 5 G 

 PT XL Axiata Tbk (XL Axiata) launched a 5G network in Bali. XL Axiata customers can try it at the XL Center on Jalan Sunset Road, Kuta District, Badung Regency. "Currently, the XL Center is the first place we created as a 5G location so that customers who want to try 5G can come and try the service," said Director of Technology & Chief Technology Officer XL Axiata, I Gede Darmayusa at XL Center Bali, Badung, Wednesday. (13/10/2021). Darmayusa said this introduction was done to educate customers about the differences between 4G and 5G. Customers will also be educated on why they will need a 5G network. He emphasized that the 5G network can provide better usage comfort compared to the previous network. Because 5G networks are faster, lower latency, and can also serve more customers in the same location. "Well, these advantages will be something that will be used optimally," said Darmayusa. Not only consumers and customers, who will feel the various advantages of the 5G network. But for the business sector and companies will certainly really need these advantages. "Maybe not now, that's why it needs to be introduced, it needs to be educated. But I'm sure in the next 2 to 3 years if everything is well covered, the infrastructure network is also well covered, it will provide maximum benefits," he explained. According to Darmayusa, this 5G network has been continuously prepared by his side in the last three years. This effort was carried out by increasing cores in various locations throughout Indonesia. For him, this is one of the steps that must be taken before 5G comes. According to him, 5G locations will be increased gradually. After Jakarta, Surabaya, and then to several provinces including Kuta and Bali.