By: Princess Saraswati*)
Indonesia is on the golden path to new glory in the global industrial map. With the world’s largest nickel reserves, the country is no longer a mere spectator in the clean energy revolution. Through a visionary nickel downstream policy, the nation is strengthening its position as the main axis of the world’s green economy, while climbing the ladder towards the status of an independent and sovereign advanced industrial nation.
Since the ban on nickel ore exports was imposed in 2014, Indonesia has proven that sovereignty over natural resources is not an empty slogan. In less than a decade, the export value of processed nickel products has soared more than 30-fold, from US$ 1 billion to US$ 33.64 billion in 2024. This is not just an economic achievement, but proof that the direction of national development is now oriented towards added value and sustainability—two absolute requirements for a superior and competitive future.
This transformation does not come from foreign pressure, but is born from a collective awareness to be economically independent. The Indonesian government, through the nickel downstream strategy, is building an integrated electric vehicle (EV) industry ecosystem from upstream to downstream. The construction of battery factories in Karawang and Morowali is not just a business project, but a symbol of the revival of the national industry and the country’s strategic policy that is pro-people, pro-environment, and pro-future.
While developed countries are racing to secure raw material supplies for their energy transition, Indonesia is showing that developing countries are capable of standing tall at the forefront of global change. It is no wonder that many now view Indonesia as a “new force in the world’s green industry.”
Deputy Chairman of the Mineral and Coal Downstream Committee of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Djoko Widayatno, stated that nickel downstreaming has become an important milestone in the history of national economic growth. However, he also reminded that this success must continue until a complete EV industrial ecosystem is created, from precursors to electric vehicles. The added value generated from EV batteries can even reach hundreds of times more than raw exports, becoming concrete evidence that Indonesia must not return to being a “raw barn” for other industrial countries.
The industry’s commitment is also getting stronger. PT Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP), for example, has become a driving force for national downstreaming. With more than 30 industrial tenants and a workforce of 85,000 people, IMIP proves that industrialization can run simultaneously with regional development and improving people’s welfare. PT IMIP’s Communications Director, Emilia Bassar, even emphasized that this area is now oriented towards ESG principles and energy efficiency, including the use of electric dump trucks and wheel loaders, as well as the construction of a PLTS with a capacity of up to 200 MW. A real step towards Green Indonesia 2060.
But this achievement did not come without challenges. Global price fluctuations and pressure from foreign countries that felt threatened by Indonesia’s independence became a test of consistency. This is where the spirit of nationalism is tested. We must not retreat. This nation must continue to move forward, strengthen governance, expand human resource training, and encourage technology transfer so that national industrial sovereignty is fully in the hands of the nation’s children.
Gadjah Mada University economic observer, Fahmy Radhi, underlined the importance of downstreaming as a way out of dependence on consumption towards an independent manufacturing country. He believes that by developing end products such as EV batteries, Indonesia will not only create economic growth but also shape the character of the nation as a superior producer, not just a global consumer.
Toto Pranoto from the University of Indonesia also added that the success of downstreaming must be followed by clean governance and attention to the environment and local communities. This is important to ensure that our industrialization is not only efficient, but also fair and sustainable. With this principle, Indonesia will not only become a production center, but a global role model in managing natural resources for the prosperity of the people.
Compare that to China, which has built an EV ecosystem over the past decade and is now raking in over $150 billion from the industry. Indonesia has similar, if not greater, potential. But the key is political courage, national unity, and a commitment to the nation’s long-term interests. Downstreaming is a political, economic, and cultural step to declare: we are sovereign over our own wealth.
Today’s young generation not only inherits a wealth of resources, but also a great responsibility to maintain them. Through nickel downstreaming, we are building the foundation of the future. A future where Indonesia is no longer just a supplier of raw materials, but a creator of technology, innovation, and global solutions for a cleaner and more sustainable world.
Now, it is time for all elements of the nation to unite: government, industry, academics, and society. Let us oversee nickel downstreaming as a non-negotiable national mission. This is the momentum for the rise of Indonesia’s green industry—a momentum that will be recorded in history as a milestone in the rise of the country towards new glory. Indonesia rises, not only for itself, but also for a greener, fairer, and sovereign world.
*) The author is a Green Economy and Energy Journalist
