Indonesia launches US$10 billion industrial projects at Weda Bay
The programme includes EV battery production and electric heavy vehicles, with 11 projects projected to create around 13,000 jobs.
President Prabowo Subianto inaugurated an industrial investment programme worth around US$10 billion at Indonesia Weda Bay Industrial Park (IWIP) in Central Halmahera, North Maluku, on 8 October 2026. The ceremony covered construction starts for seven projects, commercial operations for three and a first export for one.
Prabowo also marked the first shipment of lithium battery cells exported from IWIP. Investment and Downstreaming Minister Rosan Perkasa Roeslani, who heads BKPM, said the new developments would build an integrated electric-vehicle battery ecosystem extending to battery recycling.
Four companies were included in the commercial-operation and export milestones, with the following production capacities:
- PT Blue Sparking Energy: 67,000 tonnes of mixed hydroxide precipitate (MHP), a nickel-based battery material, per year.
- PT REPT Battero Indonesia: EV battery cells with annual capacity of 8 GWh.
- PT Pioneer Aluminium Industries: 300,000 tonnes of electrolytic aluminium per year.
- PT XCMG Indonesia Manufacturing: 700 units of electric heavy equipment per year.
Among the projects beginning construction, PT Guang Ching Nickel Cobalt will produce nickel-based battery materials, PT Inno Prima Material will make battery separators and PT Tinci Materials Indonesia will produce battery electrolytes. PT Weda Bay Aluminium and PT Bintang Karya Aluminium will develop electrolytic aluminium operations.
The other construction starts involve Foton Guangqing Motor Indonesia for electric heavy vehicles and PT Flatsolar Energy Indonesia for photovoltaic glass used by the solar-energy industry. Rosan said downstream processing and industrialisation were national priorities that would benefit both the national economy and surrounding communities in North Maluku.
According to the Ministry of Investment and Downstreaming/BKPM, North Maluku recorded Rp65.4 trillion in realised investment during the first half of 2026, up 46 per cent from the corresponding period a year earlier. Central Halmahera accounted for Rp55.7 trillion in realised investment during that period.
