Posted on 28 Aug 2023
Indonesia’s investment ministry BKPM says German chemical giant Basf is committed to investing in its proposed nickel-cobalt refinery in the country using renewable energy.
Officials of the Southeast Asian country announced in April that Basf was planning to invest $2.6 billion in a battery materials plant alongside France’s Eramet. The discussions were targeting both joint ventures and the supply of raw materials, Kallanish notes.
The high-pressure acid leach (HPAL) refinery facility will have capacity to produce 67,000 tonnes/year of nickel and 7,500 t/y of cobalt intermediates, says BKPM. The plant in North Maluku will produce mixed hydroxide precipitates (MHP), precursors for EV batteries.
“To realise Indonesia’s goal to become a global electric vehicle [leader], President Joko Widodo met with the ceo of Basf, Martin Brudermüller, to follow up on the investment plan for EV batteries in the Teluk Weda Industrial Area, North Maluku,” BKPM said in a social media post on 21 August. “The investment will take into account environmental impacts. It will use green energy throughout its process, following President Jokowi’s directions. The commitment also indicates their confidence in Indonesia’s ability to remain green in its ambition to be a global EV leader.”
Basf and Eramet announced an agreement to jointly assess the hydrometallurgical refining complex in December 2020. They said then the project would include an HPAL plant in Weda Bay and a base metal refinery (BMR) in a location to be determined during the feasibility study. Feedstock for the HPAL would be secured locally from Eramet’s Weda Bay deposit.
Eramet says it is “ready to play its part” in the development of an EV-related industry in Indonesia. It adds the project with Basf “will bring added value” in optimising the EV ecosystem in the country.
The companies are yet to announce a final investment decision.
Source:Kallanish
