Minister of Investment/Head of BKPM Bahlil Lahadalia encouraged Eramet, one of the largest mining companies in France, to immediately realize its investment in the construction of a smelter project for battery raw materials.

Eramet itself collaborates with BASF, a German chemical company in the Sonic Bay project located in Weda Bay, North Maluku with a total investment of US$ 2.2 billion - US$ 2.5 billion.

"I hope that the commitment fromErametwill soon realize this project and be able to start construction," said Bahlil quoting a press release, Sunday (30/10/2022).

In his meeting with Eramet Senior VP Corporate Affairs &Partnership Pierre-Alain Gautier in London, England, last Thursday (27/10/2022), Bahlil also requested that Eramet could involve local entrepreneurs in realizing its investment in Weda Bay.

"I only ask for one thing. The involvement of local entrepreneurs should be noted. The mining contractor must give a portion of local entrepreneurs so that there is equality. So I hope this is the focus that Eramet talks about with BASF," Bahlil said.

In response, Pierre expressed his readiness to increase the involvement of regional entrepreneurs in running their businesses. He also asked for support from the Ministry of Investment/BKPM to accelerate the management of land conservation permits.

The Ministry of Investment/BKPM had previously facilitated the land issue of the Sonic Bay project in the IWIP Industrial Estate related to the approval of the Forest Area Release from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK).

In addition, Pierre also proposed cooperation between Indonesia, France, Germany, and the European Union in the framework of the G20. This is done to support global partnerships to realize sustainable integration of strategic mineral resources.

"Perhaps our project with BASF can serve as a concrete example in the global partnership of mineral resources," Pierre added.

For information, Eramet is a mineral resource mining and mineral processing company from France and is one of the largest mining companies in the world. Eramet's business lines include mining nickel, manganese, and lithium minerals; and research and development of alloys.

Eramet itself is known to have collaborated with Antam since 1998 through a subsidiary called Strand Minerals to establish a company on behalf of PT Weda bay Nickel in Teluk Weda.

The development of Eramet's operations in Weda Bay is also in collaboration with Tsingshan, the world's largest stainless steel producer, with a target of mining operation production capacity of 35,000 tons of nickel per year.

Image source: Bisnis - Himawan L Nugraha

Source: https://ekonomi.bisnis.com/read/20221030/44/1592876/bahlil-dorong-eramet-realisasikan-investasinya-di-weda-bay