[SMM Express] does Tesla plan to build a battery factory in Indonesia? Terminal battery car companies set off a wave of nickel panning.

SMM: recently, according to Indonesian media reports, the Indonesian government and Tesla are discussing the construction of a battery factory in Batang City, Central Java Province. Indonesian Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang (Agus Gumiwang) said that he was indeed discussing with Tesla the possibility of setting up a battery factory. "relevant discussions are under way in Batang. Tesla has previously shown a strong interest in nickel, and Tesla CEO Musk said the company would give "big orders" to companies that mine nickel, as long as mining is efficient and sustainable.

Tesla's thirst for nickel mainly stems from his cobalt-free strategy for power batteries. Tesla held a press conference at 04:30 on Sept. 23, announcing that his new future goal is to produce electric cars that cost as little as $25000 (170000 yuan). "the new mode of production of the battery, as well as changing the materials inside the cell, will halve the price per kilowatt-hour of the Tesla battery pack, thus reducing the price of electric vehicles to a level similar to that of fuel vehicles." Musk stressed, "if you maximize the use of nickel and reduce cobalt to zero, you can reduce the price by 50%."

Combined with Tesla's overall strategy, Musk's move to ensure its nickel resources in Indonesia makes sense. Indonesia, as a large nickel mining country, is very rich and concentrated in resources. Sulawesi Island is a large island in central Indonesia, accounting for 70-80% of Indonesia's nickel resources. However, Indonesia currently prohibits the export of nickel ore in its mining law, but encourages downstream enterprises to build smelters to develop downstream industrial chains. Tesla's construction of a battery factory in (Batang), Batang region, central Java, Indonesia, will enable it to ensure a rich supply of nickel resources.

In addition, according to sources, Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd (CATL) and LG Chem, from China and South Korea have expressed interest in the nickel mine to lithium battery industry chain built in Indonesia. Indonesian maritime and investment coordination spokesman Jodi Mahardi said that China's Ningde Times and Ningbo Liqin plan to build an integrated lithium battery production facility in Indonesia.

In recent years, Indonesia attaches great importance to the development of the lower reaches of the nickel industry chain. Indonesian Minerals and Coal Director Ridwan Djamaluddin also said recently that the presence of downstream nickel is considered to have a positive impact on the country's economy. In addition to increasing the value of the production supply chain, downstream also protects nickel ore commodities from price fluctuations. Plans for nickel industrial zones have increased due to encouragement from industrialists. The market is aware of the importance of the nickel industry. The growth of the processing industry is based on Indonesia's great potential for low-grade nickel.

Coinciding with Indonesia's ambition for the expansion of the industrial chain, many new energy enterprises that want to ensure nickel resources have also gradually begun to lay out processing bases in Indonesia. With the continued development of the wave of new energy vehicles, under the pressure of the cost side, nickel resources are becoming more and more hot. Ensuring the supply of raw materials in advance will provide a strong boost to the more brutal struggle for market share of new energy vehicles in the future.