Don’t You Make The Conditions…

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Menko Marves) Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan admitted that the party called Tesla on Thursday (24/3/2022) morning.

Luhut said the electric car company from the United States (US) expressed its desire to build a lithium battery factory in Indonesia.

However, Luhut reminded Tesla not to dictate to the Indonesian government anymore. Because Tesla also expressed interest in investing in Indonesia 2 years ago.

“This morning, I got a call from America. Tesla said he wanted to make it built in our home (Indonesia). I said something like, ‘You were two years ago calling me to make a lithium battery. You make everything, want to dictate’,” said Luhut when closing the Business Matching for Domestic Product Shopping which was broadcast virtually.

Also read: Luhut: I used to be accused by China of all kinds, see the impact on Indonesia…

He emphasized that the government did not feel a loss even though it did not reach an agreement with Tesla 2 years ago. The government also did not prohibit representatives of the company owned by Ellon Musk from coming to the country.

However, Luhut asked Tesla not to do the same thing as two years ago if it still wants to invest in Indonesia.

“This countries not banana republic. This country is great country,” said Luhut.

Luhut also said that there are already two electric vehicle battery manufacturers who are currently willing to produce lithium batteries in Indonesia. The two companies are Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL) and LG Chem.

“These two havecover more than 50 percent of the world’s lithium batteries,” he said.

Also read: Luhut Claims to have been criticized by the US government, this is the reason

Luhut said Chinese companies were actually allowed to build lithium battery factories in Indonesia because they agreed to the requirements. In fact, Luhut said, China has never put forward conditions to invest in Indonesia.

Therefore, Luhut asked Tesla to follow the conditions desired by the Indonesian government if he wanted to invest in Indonesia.

“But I don’t want to come deal, don’t you (Tesla) make conditions for us. I made the conditions for you, because that’s what I did to China,” said Luhut.

The former Presidential Chief of Staff said that the production of electric vehicle batteries in Indonesia will begin in 2024. He believes that Indonesia will become the second largest electric vehicle battery producer in the world by 2025 or 2026.

Also read: Luhut: The Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia WA I Asked the Progress of Nusantara IKN Investment

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