The development plan for the electric vehicle (EV) battery factory holding the mining BUMN, MIND ID, is alive again. MIND ID said that PT Aneka Tambang Tbk (ANTM) is ready to continue the process of discussing collaboration with the LG Energy Solution consortium. This is to overcome the obstacles to the development of electric vehicle battery factories between the two parties.

In previous news, the Main Director of MIND ID, Hendi Prio Santoso, once said that the plan to form a joint venture (JV) between Antam and LG Energy Solution was still unclear. LG also encouraged its consortium member, Huayou, to continue the discussion and negotiation process. However, Hendi admitted that the negotiation process was still experiencing problems. This is because MIND ID thinks that Huayou is not an equal partner with Antam. Huayou is only engaged in smelter development. Meanwhile, MIND ID wants a complete consortium from upstream to downstream of EV battery manufacturers.

Confirmed separately, MIND ID Corporate Secretary Heri Yusuf said that discussions were ready to be carried out by Antam. "This is because Antam has completed the spin-off process for a nickel concession to a subsidiary of the issuer who is collaborating in the electric vehicle battery development project," he said, Thursday (9/2). In Kontan.co.id's previous news, the spin off process took place in August 2022. At that time, Antam transferred part of the mining business permit area located in East Halmahera, North Maluku, to PT Nusa Karya Arindo (NKA) and PT Sumberdaya Arindo ( natural resources).

Currently, MIND ID said that there is an internal discussion process in the LG Energy Solution consortium regarding the composition of participation among the members of the consortium. This relates to involvement in the development of every line in the electric vehicle battery industry chain. "The electric vehicle industry that will be developed will include a holistic process from upstream to downstream or from mines to battery recycling," he said. Then, Heri said, the follow-up discussion process would be carried out after finalizing the composition and form of concrete cooperation from the LG Energy Solution consortium.

Source: https://industri.kontan.co.id/news/mind-id-antam-akan-lanjutkan-negosiasi-pabrik-baterai-ev-dengan-lg-energy-solution