Channel NewsAsia – Technology

Asia's EVolution: Indonesia’s Nickel Powers Global Electric Vehicle Boom but at What Cost to the Country?

Indonesia now provides roughly 40% of the world’s nickel, a critical component for electric‑vehicle batteries. A 2014 export ban and a 2020 full ban forced the country to build a domestic refining sector, which exploded from six plants in 2015 to 79 by the end of 2025, largely financed by Chinese investors. The rapid expansion relies on coal‑fired power, creating severe air and water pollution and reshaping fishing villages into industrial hubs. While the boom fuels global EV growth, it leaves local communities grappling with environmental degradation and social disruption.