- Elon Musk considers Indonesia’s offer for an EV battery plant.
- Indonesia seeks Musk’s investment, leveraging nickel reserves.
- Musk also mulls AI center and SpaceX launchpad in the country.
Following a meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Elon Musk is reportedly weighing an offer to establish an electric vehicle battery factory in the country, according to senior cabinet minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan.
The government proposed the idea of building a plant specifically for producing cathode precursors, and Musk has agreed to consider the offer.
Nickel, incentives, and a sprinkle of Musk magic
Indonesia has been actively seeking Musk’s investment in the country. In March 2022, the government introduced an incentive program for manufacturers, retailers, and individuals looking to invest in or switch to electric vehicles.
The country aims to leverage its nickel reserves to develop the EV industry and hopes to involve Tesla in the construction of EV factories.
Musk’s potential ventures
In addition to the EV battery plant, President Widodo suggested that Musk establish an AI center in Indonesia and build a SpaceX launchpad on Biak, an island in the Papua province.
SpaceX recently launched its satellite internet service, Starlink, primarily for Indonesia’s health sector.
While commercially available, the Indonesian government prioritizes remote and underdeveloped areas for the service. Notably, nearly 60% of the approximately 7,500 satellites currently orbiting Earth belong to SpaceX.
To read the original article: https://www.techinasia.com/musk-weigh-offer-ev-battery-plant-indonesia-minister
